Standardized Melaleuca Leucadendra (L.) L. and Melaleuca Styphelioides Sm. Leaf Extracts Attenuate Obesity in High-Fat-Diet-Fed Rats

Hussein, Sahar A.M.; Emam, Mahmoud; Mansour, Dina F.; Saleh, Dalia O.; Radwan, Rasha A.; Bakry, Sherien M.; Hegazi, Nesrine M.

doi:10.21608/ejchem.2025.214538.11265

Standardized Melaleuca Leucadendra (L.) L. and Melaleuca Styphelioides Sm. Leaf Extracts Attenuate Obesity in High-Fat-Diet-Fed Rats

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

¹ Phytochemistry and Plant Systematics Department, Pharmaceutical Industries Institute, National Research Centre, Dokki, Cairo 12622, Egypt.

² Pharmacology Department, Medical Research and Clinical Studies Institute, National Research Centre, Dokki, Cairo 12622, Egypt.

³ Biochemistry Department, Faculty of Biotechnology, German International University, Regional Ring Rd, East Cairo, New Administrative Capital, Egypt

10.21608/ejchem.2025.214538.11265

Abstract

Owing to the increased prevalence of obesity worldwide, and the well-known side effects of the commercially available drugs, there is a pressing need for re-exploring our natural resources for safer alternatives. Aim of the study: The crude extracts of the leaves of two common Egyptian Melaleuca species (Melaleuca leucadendra, ML and Melaleuca styphelioides, MS) were tested for their in vitro α-amylase inhibition and in vivo anti-obesity potential in a high fat-fed (HFD) rat model. Materials and methods: For the standardization of both extracts, qualitative and quantitative metabolite fingerprinting was performed via high-performance liquid chromatography with diode array detection (HPLC/ DAD) and NMR-based metabolomics. Results: Both extracts were characterized by the presence of phenolic acids with gallic and ellagic acids as the major ones. Besides, some flavonoids were detected such as rutin, naringenin, daidzein, quercetin, apigenin, and kaempferol. The extracts showed 85 %± 3.5 and 83 % ± 3.6 reductions in the α-amylase activity at 600µg/ml with an IC50 347 ± 4.6 and 365 ± 3.8µg/ml, for ML and MS respectively. Both extracts displayed evident anti-obesity potential by attenuating HFD-induced weight change, lipid profile, and adipose tissue markers of obese rats. Conclusion: Melaleuca extracts are potential candidates for attenuating obesity by reducing the gain in body weight and modulating the lipid profile and adipose tissue markers, in a dose-dependent approach.

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