Anti-obesity and hepatoprotective effects of a traditional herbal tea Mendím me zoñ against cafeteria diet-induced metabolic disorders in Wistar rats

Background & Aims: With the growing prevalence of obesity and its associated metabolic complications, there is a need for effective natural therapies. This study evaluated the anti-obesity and hepatoprotective potential of Mendím me zoñ (MMZ), a traditional herbal tea, in a rat model. Methods: Rats were fed a cafeteria diet and treated with different doses of MMZ (6, 8, 10, and 12 mL/kg) or atorvastatin (10 mg/kg) for 30 days. Different parameters including food intake, fecal lipid excretion, anthropometric indices, serum lipid profiles, and markers of hepato-renal function were evaluated. Moreover, oxidative stress markers and histopathological changes were analyzed. Results: MMZ treatment, particularly at 12 mL/kg (MMZ12), significantly suppressed hyperphagia and reduced metabolic efficiency compared to Negative control (Neg.C). High dose of MMZ effectively stimulated fecal lipid excretion (48.71%) and normalized the Lee and adiposity indices to levels comparable to Normal control (P > 0.05). MMZ12 also led to a significant improvement in the lipid profile marked by a reduction in LDL-C of up to 81.10%, an increase HDL-C levels of up to 168.79% and a decrease in glucose levels. Furthermore, MMZ12 exhibited strong antioxidant activity by significantly increasing hepatic levels of SOD, CAT, GSH, and NO, while reducing malondialdehyde (MDA) by 88.28%. Histopathological evaluation confirmed that liver architecture was restored proportionally to the dose of MMZ, with MMZ12 almost completely reversing diet-induced leukocyte infiltration and hepatocyte distortion. Conclusions: Overall, MMZ is a promising therapeutic tea with strong anti-obesity and hepatoprotective properties, owing to its lipid absorption-inhibiting, antioxidant activity-enhancing, and hepatoprotective effects.