The administration of an extract from Berberis microphylla stimulates energy expenditure, thermogenesis and mitochondrial dynamics in mice brown adipose tissue

Abstract Obesity is defined as excess fat accumulation in white adipose tissue. In opposition to this storage function, brown adipose tissue (BAT) counters obesity, by consuming fat through thermogenesis. Obese individuals display lower BAT mitochondrial oxidative capacity and altered mitochondrial morphology. A promising strategy to fight obesity is dietary polyphenols, which increase BAT mass and function, stimulating energy expenditure (EE). Calafate, a polyphenol-rich Chilean native fruit, has anti-inflammatory and antioxidant characteristics. The effect of a Calafate extract (50 mg [total polyphenols]/kg body weight/day) on EE and mitochondrial function and morphology in BAT from obese mice was assessed. Adult male C57BL/6J mice were subdivided into four treatments for 18 weeks: control diet (C), control diet+Calafate (CC), high-fat diet (HF), high-fat diet+Calafate (HFC). Calafate extract decreased high-fat diet-induced body weight gain from week 6 of treatment (p