Flavonoids of <i>Rosa sterilis</i> S. D. Shi improve high-fat diet-induced obesity in mice by inhibiting lipid accumulation and regulating the gut microbiota

Obesity is a complex disease associated with poor dietary habits and the gut microbiota. <i>Rosa sterilis</i> S. D. Shi contains abundant flavonoids, which have significant antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-obesity effects. Flavonoids from <i>Rosa sterilis</i> S. D. Shi (FRS) are bioactive compounds with multiple activities. The aim of the present study was to investigate whether and how the FRS can alleviate high-fat diet (HFD)-induced obesity in mice. Our results suggested that there are significant reductions in obesity-related phenotypes after 12 weeks of FRS intervention in HFD-induced mice. FRS significantly reduced weight gain, minimized liver damage, and restored liver and epididymal fat morphology in mice with HFD. Furthermore, FRS increased the population of beneficial bacteria <i>Akkermansia</i>, which helped counteract obesity, thereby improving glucose homeostasis and reducing lipid accumulation by modulating the gut microbiota composition. In conclusion, as a non-toxic and biologically active natural ingredient, FRS has the potential to prevent obesity and related metabolic disorders, and is expected to become a functional ingredient for researching anti-obesity and improving consumer health. This study provides a theoretical foundation and technical support for developing functional FRS products and underscores the importance of FRS in anti-obesity research and the advanced utilization of <i>Rosa sterilis</i> S. D. Shi resources.