Decoding Anti-obesity Mechanisms of Adzuki Bean Saponin and Soyasaponin Ba: An Integrated Multi-Omics Approach and Experimental Validation

Adzuki bean saponin (ABS) has shown therapeutic potential in improving obesity, but its underlying mechanism and active saponin components are still unknown. The purpose of this research is to study the mechanism on how the ABS improves obesity and its active saponins and further explore the molecular mechanism by which this bioactive saponin improves obesity. This research estimated the bioactive effect of ABS in obesity using a mouse model. Through advanced research methods such as spatial metabolomics, transcriptomics, proteomics, serum pharmacology, and network pharmacology, the molecular mechanisms, active saponins in ABS, and their molecular mechanisms were explored. ABS achieved anti-obesity effects by improving HFD-induced body weight gain, abnormal lipid profiles and liver dysfunction liver lipid accumulation, and increased adipose tissue. Spatial metabolomics of liver suggested that ABS is capable in improving lipid metabolism through the arachidonic acid metabolic pathway. The results of transcriptomics, proteomics, and immunohistochemistry indicated that ABS could achieve the bioactive effects through activating the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway. Serum pharmacology analysis revealed that soyasaponin Ba is a key saponin in ABS that achieves anti-obesity effects. Similarly, transcriptomics, network pharmacology, and immunofluorescence results indicated that Soyasaponin Ba can achieve anti-obesity effects by activating Wnt/β-catenin signaling and preventing the related downstream transcription factors C/EBPα and PPARγ. ABS and its active saponin Soyasaponin Ba can improve lipid accumulation and decrease adipose tissue by up-regulation of the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway. This understanding of this mechanism provides valuable insights for developing drugs or health supplements based on adzuki beans to combat obesity.