Alpha Hydroxyl Acids from <i>Mume Fructus</i> and <i>Schisandrae Chinensis Fructus</i> Prevent Obesity by Inhibiting Intestinal Lipase in Diet-Induced Obese Mice

Restriction of lipid uptake and absorption from the diet is regarded as an efficient strategy for the management of obesity, while lipase inhibition could successfully block the digestion of dietary lipids. <i>Mume Fructus</i> (MF) and <i>Schisandrae Chinensis Fructus</i> (SCF) were used as fruits, the biological effect of which on obesity desired more attention. Herein, the extracts of MF and SCF displayed significant efficacy in managing obesity in mice fed with a high-fat diet, via the inhibition of hydrolase activity of lipase in the digestive tract. Using the bioactivity guidance strategy, citric acid and malic acid were identified as the major lipase inhibitors from MF and SCF, respectively, which could prevent body weight gain, along with adipose tissue formation, and alleviate hyperlipidemia and hepatic steatosis in obese mice. Above all, MF and SCF could be used for the management of obesity via the lipase inhibition by citric acid and malic acid, displaying potential applications in healthy foods, nutritional supplements, and pharmaceutical materials.