Polyphenol-Rich Mangosteen Pericarp Extract Attenuates Metabolic and Reproductive Dysfunction in High-fat Diet and...

Obesity has emerged as a substantial socioeconomic challenge, imposing considerable burdens on healthcare systems worldwide, thereby necessitating continued efforts to identify effective and sustainable obesity control strategies. Garcinia mangostana (GM) is rich in phenolics with strong antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities, yet its potential to mitigate obesity and related comorbidities, including hyperglycemia and male reproductive dysfunction, remains unexplored. This present study investigates the hypolipidemic, hypoglycemic, and fertility-enhancing effects of a polyphenol-rich GM pericarp extract in vivo. In this study, male Sprague-Dawley rats except those in the normal control group, were fed with HFD for four weeks to induce obesity prior to streptozotocin (STZ) administration for the induction of type 2 diabetes mellitus. The HFD-STZ-induced obese-diabetic rats were supplemented with orlistat, metformin and GM pericarp extract (150, 300, and 600 mg/kg body weight), respectively. Results showed that GM supplementation for 7 weeks significantly (p < 0.05) reduced Lee's obesity index and improved glycemic control, with blood glucose levels decreasing by 33-50% compared to negative control. The supplementation significantly increased HDL level, ameliorated dyslipidemia, enhanced insulin sensitivity and reproduction health, as evidenced by improved lipid and hormonal profiles and increased sperm quality. Furthermore, the histopathological abnormalities of testis and kidney tissues caused by obesity and diabetes were notably alleviated. Creatinine levels remained within the physiological range upon treatment, suggesting no renal toxicity. GM supplementation demonstrated ameliorative effects against obesity and its associated comorbidities, including diabetes, and impaired male reproductive function. This effect could possibly be mediated by bioactive metabolites with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, suggesting its prospective role in nutraceutical development.