Anti-obesity and hypolipidemic effects of Rheum undulatum in high-fat diet-fed C57BL/6 mice through protein tyrosine phosphatase 1B inhibition

Protein tyrosine phosphatase 1B (PTP1B) is important in the regulation of metabolic diseases and has emerged as a promising signaling target. Previously, we reported the PTP1B inhibitory activity of Rheum undulatum (RU). In the present study, we investigated the metabolic regulatory effects of RU in a high-fat diet (HFD) model. RU treatment significantly blocked body weight gain, which was accompanied by a reduction of feed efficiency. In addition, it led to a reduction of liver weight mediated by overexpression of PPARα and CPT1 in the liver, and an increase in the expression of adiponectin, aP2, and UCP3 in adipose tissue responsible for the reduction of total and LDL-cholesterol levels. Chrysophanol and physcion from RU significantly inhibited PTP1B activity and strongly enhanced insulin sensitivity. Altogether, our findings strongly suggest that 2 compounds are novel PTP1B inhibitors and might be considered as anti-obesity agents that are effective for suppressing body weight gain and improving lipid homeostasis.