Flavonoids, quercitrin, isoquercitrin (IQ), and afzelin, were isolated from ethyl acetate fraction of Acer okamotoanum. We investigated anti-obesity effects and mechanisms of three flavonoids from A. okamotoanum in the differentiated 3T3-L1 cells. The differentiated 3T3-L1 cells increased triglyceride (TG) contents, compared with non-differentiated normal group. However, treatments of three flavonoids from A. okamotoanum decreased TG contents without cytotoxicity. In addition, they showed significant down-regulation of several adipogenic transcription factors, such as γ-cytidine-cytidine-adenosine-adenosine-thymidine/enhancer binding protein -α, -β, and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ, compared with non-treated control group. Furthermore, treatment of the flavonoids inhibited expressions of lipogenesis-related proteins including fatty acid synthase, adipocyte protein 2, and glucose transporter 4. Moreover, IQ-treated group showed significant up-regulation of lipolysis-related proteins such as adipose triglyceride lipase and hormone-sensitive lipase. In addition, flavonoids significantly activated 5 -adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase (AMPK) compared to control group. In particular, IQ showed higher inhibition of TG accumulation by regulation of pathways related with both adipogenesis and lipolysis, than other flavonoids. The present results indicated that three flavonoids of A. okamotoanum showed anti-obesity activity by regulation of adipocyte differentiation, lipolysis, and AMPK signaling, suggesting as an anti-obesity functional agents.Molecules 2020, 25, 1920 2 of 13 activation of hydrolyzing enzymes including hormone-sensitive lipase (HSL) and adipose triglyceride lipase (ATGL), resulting in the production of fatty acids and glycerol [9]. In addition, lipolysis is decreased by over-expression of adipogenic key transcription factors in the adipogenesis [9]. Moreover, phosphorylation of 5 -adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase (AMPK) is important for progression of obesity [10]. Therefore, many researchers are focused on treatment of obesity by regulation of AMPK pathway [10,11]. Recently, anti-obesity agents are popular and attracted much attention, but they have several side effects including diarrhea, headache, and gastrointestinal discomfort [12]. Therefore, finding of natural products without side effects for anti-obesity agents by inhibition of adipogenesis and promotion of lipolysis is one of strategies to prevent and treat obesity.Acer okamotoanum is widely distributed in Ulleung-do, Republic of Korea, as one variety of Korean endemic species [13]. A. okamotoanum has been reported to exert some biological activities such as anti-oxidant, anti-hypertension and immune improvement effect [14][15][16]. A. okamotoanum contains biological compounds such as cleomiscosin A and C, gallic acid, and β-amyrin [17]. We previously isolated flavonoids such as quercitrin (QU; quercetin-3-rhamoside), isoquercitrin (IQ; quercetin-3-glucoside), and afzelin (AF; kaempferol-3-rhamoside...