Ameliorating effects of Orostachys japonica against high-fat diet-induced obesity and gut dysbiosis

Orostachys japonica (rock pine) has been used as a folk remedy to treat inflammation, hepatitis, and cancer in East Asia. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of rock pine extract (RPE) on high-fat diet-induced obesity in mice and to examine its effects on gut dysbiosis. The characteristic compound of RPE, kaempferol-3-O-rutinoside, was quantified using high-performance liquid chromatography. The prebiotic potential of RPE was evaluated by assessing the prebiotic activity score obtained using four prebiotic strains and high-fat (HF)-induced obesity C57BL/6 mice model. Analysis included examining the lipid metabolism and inflammatory proteins and evaluating the changes in gut permeability and metabolites to elucidate the potential signaling pathways involved. In vitro, RPE enhanced the proliferation of beneficial probiotic strains, including Lactiplantibacillus and Bifidobacterium. HF-induced model showed that the administration of 100 mg/kg/day of RPE for 8 weeks significantly (p < 0.05) reduced the body weight, serum lipid levels, and insulin resistance, which were associated with notable changes in lipid metabolism and inflammation-related markers. Our results demonstrate that rock pine consumption could mitigate obesity and metabolic endotoxemia in HF-fed mice through enhancing intestinal environment.