Context-Dependent Modulation of Lipolytic Activity by Ginkgo biloba Extract: Evidence from Murine and Human Adipose Models

Background/Objectives: Dysregulated lipolysis contributes to adipose tissue dysfunction in obesity. Ginkgo biloba extract (GbE) influences adipose metabolism, but its effects across adipose models remain unclear. We evaluated GbE effects on lipolytic activity in murine and human models. Methods: Differentiated 3T3-L1 and hWA A41 adipocytes, primary adipocytes from one individual with obesity, and human visceral adipose tissue explants from individuals with overweight or obesity were exposed to GbE (1.00 mg/mL, 48 h). Lipolytic activity was assessed by glycerol release. Plin1, Pnpla2, and Lipe expression, ATGL and pHSL abundance, and MTT-based metabolic activity were evaluated. Results: GbE increased basal glycerol release nearly fivefold in 3T3-L1 adipocytes (p = 0.0045) and by 26.3% in hWA A41 cells (p = 0.0007). GbE reduced Plin1 (p = 0.0182) and Lipe (p = 0.0027) expression, while Pnpla2 remained unchanged. In hWA A41 cells, pHSL increased (p = 0.0459), while ATGL was unchanged. MTT-based metabolic activity increased at 1.00 mg/mL but decreased at higher concentrations. A descriptive 35% reduction in glycerol release was observed in primary adipocytes from one donor. GbE reduced glycerol release by approximately 45% in visceral adipose tissue explants from individuals with obesity, with no significant change in overweight. Conclusions: GbE produced distinct effects across adipose models, increasing lipolytic activity in adipocyte cell lines while reducing glycerol release in visceral adipose tissue explants from individuals with obesity, with a directionally similar reduction descriptively observed in primary adipocytes. These preliminary findings warrant further mechanistic and in vivo studies.