Morus alba leaf tea consumption reduces hyperlipidaemia, adipocyte hypertrophy and inflammation in HFD-induced obese mice.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: Morus alba (mulberry leaf) has long been used in East Asian medicine for its anti-inflammatory and metabolic regulatory properties. This study aimed to investigate the potential anti-obesity and anti-inflammatory effects of mulberry leaf tea (MAL) in C57BL/6 mice fed a high-fat diet (HFD). EXPERIMENTAL PROCEDURE: Male C57BL/6 mice were assigned to standard diet, HFD, or HFD with MAL supplementation via drinking water for 12 weeks. Body weight, fat mass, and adipocyte morphology were assessed. Serum adiponectin levels and hepatic AMPK activation were measured. Inflammatory protein markers in liver and adipose tissues were analyzed by Western blot. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: MAL supplementation did not significantly reduce body weight or fat mass, possibly due to insufficient dosing via drinking water. However, MAL significantly reduced adipocyte size, suggesting a shift from hypertrophy to hyperplasia. Serum adiponectin levels were elevated, and hepatic AMPK activation was enhanced, indicating potential improvements in lipid metabolism and insulin sensitivity. Moreover, expression of inflammatory markers such as TNF-α, MCP-1, and IL-6 was reduced in liver and adipose tissue. These findings suggest that while MAL had limited anti-obesity effects under current administration, it exerted notable anti-inflammatory benefits. Further studies using more concentrated supplementation forms are recommended.