Antiobesity Effects of Purple Perilla (Perilla frutescens var. acuta) on Adipocyte Differentiation and Mice Fed a High‐fat Diet

Purple perilla (PE) is a medicinal plant that has several health benefits. In this study, the antiobesity effect of PE was studied in 3T3‐L1 preadipocytes and C57BL/6J mice fed high‐fat diets. Triglyceride quantification and Oil Red O staining in matured adipocytes revealed that PE reduced lipid accumulation in differentiated adipocytes by downregulating adipogenic gene and upregulating lipolytic gene expressions. Mice were fed normal diet, high‐fat diet and high‐fat diet supplemented with different concentrations of PE. Treatment with PE significantly prevented body weight gain, improved serum lipids, hepatic lipids and reduced the epididymal fat. Furthermore, in the adipose tissue and liver, expression of genes related to lipolysis and fatty acid β‐oxidation were upregulated in PE‐ treated mice. Thus, our results suggested that PE has antiobesity effects in rodents and can be effective in obesity management. Practical Application Purple perilla, rich in polyphenols such as rosmarinic acid, showed lipid lowering in adipocyte cells and prevented body weight gain in mice. Therefore we conclude that purple perilla may be a potential candidate for the development of functional foods or nutraceuticals in managing obesity in humans.