Find in Library

Obesity is a multifactorial disease characterized by an excessive accumulation of fat, which in turn poses a significant risk to health. Bioactive compounds obtained from macroalgae have demonstrated their efficacy in combating obesity in various animal models. The green macroalgae <i>Caulerpa lentillifera</i> (CL) contains numerous active constituents. Hence, in the present study, we aimed to elucidate the beneficial anti-obesity effects of extracts derived from <i>C. lentillifera</i> using a <i>Caenorhabditis elegans</i> obesity model. The ethanol (CLET) and ethyl acetate (CLEA) extracts caused a significant decrease in fat consumption, reaching up to approximately 50–60%. Triglyceride levels in 50 mM glucose-fed worms were significantly reduced by approximately 200%. The GFP-labeled <i>dhs-3</i>, a marker for lipid droplets, exhibited a significant reduction in its level to approximately 30%. Furthermore, the level of intracellular ROS displayed a significant decrease of 18.26 to 23.91% in high-glucose-fed worms treated with CL extracts, while their lifespan remained unchanged. Additionally, the mRNA expression of genes associated with lipogenesis, such as <i>sbp-1</i>, showed a significant down-regulation following treatment with CL extracts. This finding was supported by a significant decrease (at 16.22–18.29%) in GFP-labeled <i>sbp-1</i> gene expression. These results suggest that <i>C. lentillifera</i> extracts may facilitate a reduction in total fat accumulation induced by glucose through <i>sbp-1</i> pathways. In summary, this study highlights the anti-obesity potential of compounds derived from <i>C. lentillifera</i> extracts in a <i>C. elegans</i> model of obesity, mediated by the suppression of lipogenesis pathways.