Nerol alleviates obesity and modulates gut microbiota in high-fat diet-fed mice

Nerol (NE), a monoterpenoid compound primarily obtained from orange leaves, roses, and lemons, exhibits diverse biological activities. This study investigated the protective effects of dietary NE supplementation against obesity in mice fed with high-fat diet (HFD). Five-week-old male C57BL/6J mice were randomly divided into three groups and subjected to chow diet, HFD, or HFD supplemented with 0.2% (w/w) NE for 13 weeks. The results demonstrated that NE significantly mitigated the body weight, adipocyte enlargement, and hepatic steatosis induced by the HFD. NE notably modulated the expression of genes associated with adipogenesis and thermogenesis in epididymal white adipose tissue (WAT). NE also improved gut dysbiosis based on 16S rRNA sequencing analysis. Transcriptomic analysis of WAT revealed that NE induced distinct alterations in gene expression patterns, which exhibit a strong interaction with the gut microbiome. Our findings underscore the potential of NE as a functional dietary supplement for obesity management.