The protective effects of young pomelo fruits extract against acute hyperlipidemia and high-fat diet-induced obese mice

Abstract

Introduction

Pomelo (柚 in Mandarin) (Citrus grandis L. Osbeck), a long-used fruit in Asia and China, is commonly used in traditional Chinese medicine. Pomelo is also a culturally significant fruit tree in Vietnam, renowned for its culinary and medicinal value. Young pomelo fruits possess high levels of flavonoids, but their research significance remains limited. Due to its relatively unknown potential, young pomelo is usually discarded during gardening maintenance leading to waste. This study aims to determine the naringin content and investigate the ameliorative effect on lipid profile of young pomelo extracts.

Methods

Two mouse models of hyperlipidemia, specifically tyloxapol and a high-fat diet (HFD) model, were utilized to assess the effects of young pomelo extracts. Tyloxapol decreases the clearance of lipoprotein and leads to acute endogenous hyperlipidemia, while a high fat diet causes obesity among mice. The hypolipidemic effect of young pomelo extract was assessed through the level of serum triglyceride (TG), total cholesterol (TC), low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL-c), and high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-c), while its ameliorative effect was assessed through physical changes of mice and histological changes of their livers.

Results

In the tyloxapol model, the naringin-rich young pomelo extracts exhibited promising effects in the treatment of hyperlipidemia. Notably, they significantly reduced total cholesterol, triglycerides, and LDL-c levels while elevating HDL-c levels. In the HFD model, the young pomelo extracts demonstrated similar effects on the biochemical lipid profiles. Moreover, the young pomelo extracts possess a protective effect against HFD-induced hepatosteatosis and hepatic necroinflammation. These findings align with existing literature, highlighting the potential utilization of young pomelo fruits.

Discussion

The findings have significant implications for the development of novel therapeutic approaches targeting obesity and related metabolic disorders. Furthermore, the study contributes to promoting sustainable agriculture practices by emphasizing the utilization of young pomelo fruits that would otherwise go to waste. Overall, this study provides valuable insights into establishing a high-fat diet-induced obesity model, tyloxapol-induced hyperlipidemia and demonstrates the potential of young pomelo as a rich source of naringin.