Biological Activity of Resveratrol, a Plant-Derived Polyphenol, in Combination with Orlistat: A Preclinical Study on Anti-Obesity Effects

Resveratrol (RVT) is a plant-derived polyphenol found in traditional medicinal species such as Veratrum grandiflorum and Polygonum cuspidatum, known for their bioactive secondary metabolites. This study evaluates the anti-obesity effects of RVT alone and in combination with orlistat (OLT), a pharmaceutical lipase inhibitor, in a high-fat diet-induced obesity model in rats. Female Sprague-Dawley rats were assigned to receive RVT, OLT, a combination of both, or no treatment, over a four-week period. The combination of RVT and OLT led to a significant reduction in body weight gain and improvement in lipid profiles, including decreased LDL cholesterol. Additionally, the combination ameliorated liver enzyme elevations associated with obesity-related hepatic stress. These findings demonstrate that resveratrol potentiates orlistat’s pharmacological efficacy and highlights the therapeutic potential of bioactive compounds from medicinal plants in metabolic disease management. This study supports further development of plant-based pharmacological agents and synergistic formulations for the treatment of obesity and associated comorbidities.