ORIGINAL RESEARCH article
Front. Nutr.
Sec. Nutritional Epidemiology
Effect of Doum (Hyphaene thebaica) Mesocarp and Endosperm Extracts on Triton X-100 Induced Hyperlipidemic Rat: Mitigative Cardiovascular and Renal Dysfunction Risks
Qassim University, Buraidah, Saudi Arabia
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Abstract
Hyperlipidemia increases the risk of cardiovascular (CVD) progression and renal dysfunction. Objectives: This study aimed to identify, for the first time, the protective effects of both the Hyphaene thebaica (Doum) edible mesocarp (DM) and inedible endosperm (DE) on hyperlipidemia and its associated cardiovascular and renal risks. Methods: Wistar rats were divided into seven groups: a negative control, a Triton X-100 (TrX-100)-induced hyperlipidemic model group, a group treated with atorvastatin, and groups receiving DM or DE at doses of 500 or 1000 mg/kg alongside TrX-100 induction. Results: The TrX-100 model group exhibited significant hyperlipidemia, characterized by elevated triglycerides, total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein, and total lipids. This was accompanied by increased CVD risk indicators (coronary artery index, cardiac index, atherogenic index, and angiotensin-converting enzyme), reduced kidney tissue antioxidants, increased malondialdehyde, and elevated markers of renal dysfunction (creatinine, urea, and uric acid). Administration of a high dose of DM (1000 mg/kg) exerted significant hypolipidemic effects, mitigated CVD risk factors, protected renal function, and rebalanced kidney tissue antioxidant activities and malondialdehyde levels. Meanwhile, a dose of 500 mg/kg DM showed a mild effect on the lipid profile and factors mitigating CVD risk, kidney dysfunction, and kidney tissue antioxidants. Interestingly, a low dose of DE (500 mg/kg) had a more pronounced hypolipidemic impact, significantly mitigating CVD risk and enhancing kidney tissue antioxidant activities, compared to a high dose. Histopathological observation of kidney specimens confirmed the findings of kidney function. Conclusively, DM at a high dose achieved the best hypolipidemia effect, the highest protection against CVD risk, and improved renal function. The performance of DM was dose-dependent. A Low dose of DE had a more pronounced effect than a high dose, making it a point for future research on DE safety and reliability.
Summary
Keywords
antioxidant activity, Cardiovascular Diseases, Endosperm, Hyperlipidemia, Hyphaene thebaica, Mesocarp, renal dysfunction
Received
25 November 2025
Accepted
20 February 2026
Copyright
© 2026 M. Alhomaid. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) or licensor are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.
*Correspondence: Raghad M. Alhomaid
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