Elsholtzia bodinieri Vaniot, a medicinal and edible plant native to Yunnan, China, was investigated for its lipid-reducing effects in this study. The essential oil of E. bodinieri Vaniot (EBVEO) demonstrated a significant reduction in lipid droplets, intracellular triglyceride (TG), and total cholesterol (TC) levels in HepG2 lipid-accumulating cells. EBVEO upregulated the expression of key proteins, including SIRT1, AMPK, PPARα, and CD36, promoting enhanced β-oxidation and fat breakdown. This regulatory effect on lipid metabolism was also observed in a high-fat Caenorhabditis elegans (C. elegans) model. qPCR and parallel reaction monitoring (PRM) revealed the activation of the AAK-2/NHR-49 pathway, homologs of PPARα and AMPK, leading to a substantial increase in fat oxidation and a notable reduction in fat accumulation in C. elegans. In conclusion, EBVEO exhibits promising potential in regulating cellular and C. elegans lipid metabolism through the SIRT1/AMPK and AAK-2/NHR-49 pathways, positioning it as a promising lipid metabolism enhancer.
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