Comparative Anti-Obesity Potential of Cannabigerol-Dominant Cannabis sativa L. Inflorescence Extracts via Differential Regulation of Lipid Metabolism in 3T3-L1 Cells

Obesity is a chronic metabolic disorder characterized by excessive accumulation of body fat and is a major risk factor for various diseases, including type 2 diabetes, hypertension, and cardiovascular diseases. This study investigated the anti-obesity effects of cannabigerol-dominant C. sativa inflorescence extracts (CEs) obtained using various ethanol concentrations. The extracts were analyzed by UPLC to determine their major components. Additionally, anti-obesity mechanisms of the extracts were further determined through RT-qPCR and Western blot analysis to evaluate gene and protein expression levels. A total of seven cannabinoids, including cannabigerol as a major constituent, were identified within CE. Differentiation of 3T3-L1 cells was dose-dependently inhibited by CE at all ethanol concentrations. Furthermore, the gene and protein expression levels of key adipogenic and lipogenic markers, such as PPARγ, C/EBPα, SREBP-1c, and FAS, were significantly downregulated by CE treatment. In contrast, the expression of factors involved in lipolysis and white adipose tissue browning, such as HSL, ATGL, UCP1, and PGC-1α, was markedly increased by CE treatment. These effects were enhanced in an ethanol concentration-dependent manner. In conclusion, these results demonstrate that cannabigerol-dominant C. sativa effectively mitigates obesity by suppressing adipogenesis and lipogenesis while concurrently stimulating lipolysis and white adipose tissue browning.