Citri Reticulatae Pericarpium improves obesity in OVX mice by regulating the gut microbiota and suppressing appetite

Postmenopausal obesity is a significant health concern for postmenopausal women, closely linked to estrogen deficiency. Citri Reticulatae Pericarpium (CRP), a fruit peel from the Rutaceae family of citrus fruits known as Chenpi in Chinese, is a common food ingredient primarily used for culinary flavoring and enhancing food aroma. Modern research has shown its significant role in regulating lipid metabolism. In this study, we used ovariectomized (OVX) mice to model female menopause. Using micro-CT imaging, metabolic cages, and 16S rDNA analysis, we explored the functional roles of CRP in estrogen-deficient female obesity and metabolic dysfunction. It was found that CRP significantly reduced body fat mass, improved fat distribution and abnormal serum biochemical markers, increased overall energy expenditure, and enhanced insulin sensitivity in mice. Meanwhile, CRP markedly decreased hepatic lipid accumulation in both in vivo and in vitro experiments. Moreover, CRP significantly suppressed appetite, reduced feeding frequency, increased the abundance of beneficial gut microbiota, and decreased pathogenic microorganisms to help regulate lipid balance. In summary, our findings confirm that dietary CRP effectively alleviates lipid metabolism disorders in OVX mice, providing new insights for the daily management of obesity and metabolic syndrome in postmenopausal women.