['There is growing evidence that natural products, mostly plant-derived polyphenols, are important in the relationship between nutrients and health in humans.', 'We aimed to investigate if verbascoside (VB) and other lemon verbena polyphenols could ameliorate obesity-induced metabolic disturbances, as well as their putative mechanism.', 'We used an insulin-resistant hypertrophic 3T3-L1-adipocyte model to test the effects of VB or lemon verbena extract on triglyceride accumulation, inflammation and oxidative stress and a murine model of diet-induced obesity to assess the in vivo metabolic response.', 'Polyphenols decreased triglyceride accumulation, the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and restored mitochondrial membrane potential in adipocytes. The underlying mechanisms seemed to occur via ROS-mediated downregulation of nuclear factor kappa-B transcription factor (NF-κB) and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPAR-γ)-dependent transcriptional upregulation of adiponectin. We also observed a potent activation of AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK), the mRNA expression upregulation of PPAR-α and the mRNA expression downregulation of fatty acid synthase. Experiments in mice suggested a significant improvement in fat metabolism.'] Do lemon verbena ( Lippia citriodora ) polyphenols alleviate obesity-related disturbances in hypertrophic adipocytes through AMPK-dependent mechanisms?