Wuttiin J.Nuntawong P.Khine H.E.E.Sungthong R.Kitisripanya T.Thant M.T.Chaotham C.Mekboonsonglarp W.Likhitwitayawuid K.Sritularak B.Mahidol University2025-07-302025-07-302025-12-01Scientific Reports Vol.15 No.1 (2025)https://repository.li.mahidol.ac.th/handle/123456789/111447The rising global incidence of obesity underscores the urgent demand for effective therapeutic interventions. Natural products have emerged as promising alternatives; however, identifying candidates that effectively target the complex mechanisms underlying obesity remains a critical challenge. In this study, the specialized metabolites of Dendrobium albosanguineum were investigated for their anti-obesity potential. Methanolic extraction was performed on the entire plant, followed by systematic fractionation and compound elucidation using mass spectrometry and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. A set of in vitro colorimetric assays was employed to assess pancreatic lipase inhibition, cytotoxicity, intracellular lipid storage, triglyceride content, and glycerol release in murine (3T3-L1) and/or human (PCS-210-010) adipocyte models. In addition, flow cytometry, western blotting analysis, and RT-qPCR were used to evaluate the effects of a chosen metabolite on cell cycle progression and the expression of adipogenesis-related genes and proteins. Eight metabolites were isolated, including bibenzyls (moscatilin, chrysotoxine), lignans (syringaresinol, foliachinenoside C), a sterol (daucosterol), a phenylpropanoid (n-octacosyl-trans-p-coumarate), and flavonoids (rhoifolin, kaempferol-3-O-(2″,6″-dirhamnosyl)glucoside). Among them, foliachinenoside C exhibited the most potent activity, with 94.77 ± 0.85% inhibition of pancreatic lipase (IC<inf>50</inf> = 40.73 ± 0.74 µM). It significantly reduced triglyceride levels and promoted glycerol release in both murine and human adipocytes. Mechanistically, foliachinenoside C induced cell cycle arrest at the G0 phase in 3T3-L1 cells and downregulated key adipogenic transcription factors (PPARγ, C/EBPα, SREBP1c) and lipogenic proteins (FAS, PLIN1, LPL, ADPN, FABP4). Moreover, it modulated the AKT/GSK3β and AMPK-ACC signaling pathways, collectively suppressing adipocyte differentiation. These findings position foliachinenoside C as a promising plant-derived compound for obesity pharmacotherapy, warranting further investigation to facilitate its clinical development.MultidisciplinaryArticleSCOPUS10.1038/s41598-025-12547-w2-s2.0-10501137431320452322