Anti-obesity potential of Elaeagnus angustifolia L. associated with phenolic profiles determined by LC-qTOF-MS

Obesity significantly impairs quality of life through physical and psychological effects, requiring effective therapeutic strategies. This study is the first to investigate the anti-obesity potential of different organs of Elaeagnus angustifolia on 3T3-L1 adipocyte differentiation and function. Cytotoxicity assays showed IC₅₀ values ranging approximately from ∼0.6 to 2.5 mg/mL, indicating acceptable safety values. Both ethanol and aqueous extracts reduced lipid accumulation in mature adipocytes, with inhibition ranging from ∼10% to over 55%, the strongest effect observed in the aqueous extracts from young leaves. Genotoxicity testing revealed only minor, non-significant increases in DNA fragmentation (<10%). LC-qTOF-MS-based metabolite fingerprinting identified phenolics, terpenes, alkaloids, and carboxylic acids as major constituents. Notably, anti-obesity activity was strongly correlated (r ≈ 0.9-1.0) with compounds such as epicatechin, genistein, isoorientin, corosolic acid, and loganic acid. Overall, these findings highlight young leaves as the most promising source for dietary supplementation aimed at obesity management.