Ellagitannin geraniin supplementation ameliorates metabolic risks in high-fat diet-induced obese Sprague Dawley rats

Geraniin, an ellagitannin found abundantly in many fruits, nuts, traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) and ayurvedic herbs, has been reported to possess numerous health benefits. This is the first study that elucidates geraniin, purified from the sub-tropical fruit Nephelium lappaceum L. rind, for its therapeutic potential in ameliorating diet-induced metabolic risks mimicking metabolic syndrome. Male post-weaning outbred Sprague Dawley rats received a 60% high-fat diet (HFD), with and without the geraniin supplementation (10 and 50 mg/kg body weight), while the control group (ND) was fed rat chows for 10 consecutive weeks. Comparatively, HFD rats demonstrated elevated body weights, white adipose tissue depots (WAT), organ weights, triaylglycerol, renal and hepatic dysfunction biomarkers, insulin resistance, declined insulin sensitivity and percent of beta-cell function. A four-week in vivo geraniin treatment, particularly at 50 mg/kg body weight, exhibited significant therapeutic potential to safely mitigate obesity-induced metabolic dysfunction. (C) 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.