Modulation of satiety, lipid metabolism, and insulin sensitivity by triphala and Garcinia cambogia in high-fat diet-induced obese rats

Abstract

Polyphenol-rich herbs help regulate fat metabolism and reduce inflammation, making them beneficial in combating obesity. This study examines the anti-obesity effects of triphala, an Ayurvedic formulation, and Garcinia cambogia, a tropical fruit extract, in high-fat diet (HFD)-induced obese rats. HPLC analysis showed triphala contained 11.08 % w/w gallic acid (GA), Garcinia cambogia extract had 63.19 % w/w hydroxycitric acid (HCA), and their combination had 15.10 % w/w HCA and 4.43 % w/w GA. LC-MS identified phenolic acids and carbonyl compounds, with GA at m/z 169.10 and HCA at m/z 207.20. For 30 days, HFD-fed rats received triphala (1000 mg/kg), Garcinia cambogia (800 mg/kg), their combination (500 mg/kg each), or the reference drug gemfibrozil (60 mg/kg). All treatments significantly reduced food intake, body weight, abdominal circumference, and BMI compared to HFD-fed controls. They also improved satiety markers (leptin, serotonin) and glucose metabolism by lowering blood glucose, insulin levels, and HOMA-IR. Additionally, lipid profiles improved, mTOR levels decreased, and adiponectin and AMPK levels were restored. Oxidative stress markers (ascorbic acid, GSH, SOD, CAT) were normalized, and histological analysis confirmed these biochemical changes. Triphala, Garcinia cambogia, and their combination effectively mitigated obesity by enhancing satiety, suppressing fat synthesis, accelerating beta-oxidation, boosting energy metabolism, improving glucose tolerance, and reducing inflammation. These findings suggest their potential as natural anti-obesity agents, providing a promising alternative to conventional pharmacological interventions.