Nutraceutical and therapeutic potential assessment of lipote (Syzygium curranii) fruit juice: Effects on lipid profile and glucose lowering

Lipote (Syzygium curranii), a seasonal berry native to the Philippines, is currently underutilized. This study aims to evaluate the nutraceutical and therapeutic potentials of lipote fruit juice by examining its physicochemical properties, phytochemical content, antioxidative activity, and bioassays both in vitro and in vivo. The physicochemical analysis revealed that lipote fruit juice has a pH of 2.74, 14.67 total soluble solids, water activity of 0.968, ash content of 0.559 g/100 g, and nutritional values, including 0.114 g fat, 0.101 g protein, 3.30 g reducing sugar, and 7.83 mg calcium per 100 g of lyophilized juice. Phytochemical analysis showed that the juice contains 63.981 mg of gallic acid equivalents and 80.587 mg of quercetin equivalents. The antioxidant properties of the juice demonstrated strong radical scavenging and iron-reducing activities. In vivo tests showed that oral administration of lipote fruit juice, at dosages of 200 mg/Kg and 2000 mg/Kg, significantly reduced cholesterol and LDL-C levels, while increasing HDL-C (p < 0.05). Additionally, the juice exhibited potent α-glucosidase and α-amylase inhibition, along with blood glucose-lowering effects, suggesting its therapeutic potential in managing blood glucose levels. These results indicate that lipote fruit juice could be developed into a nutraceutical beverage for normalizing blood lipid and glucose profiles.