Metabolic Benefits of Yerba Mate and Green Tea: Experimental Evaluation and Molecular Docking with Lipid-Regulating Enzymes

The global surge in metabolic disorders, including diabetes and dyslipidemia represents a major public health challenge. Natural products like yerba mate (Ilex paraguariensis) and green tea (Camellia sinensis) offer promising therapeutic potential due to their bioactive compounds. This study investigates the effects of Ilex paraguariensis and Camellia sinensis extracts on serum lipid and glucose levels in dyslipidemic and diabetic Wistar rats. Diabetes was induced by alloxan administration and dyslipidemia via a high-fat diet. To complement the in vivo findings, molecular docking analyses explored the interactions of major compounds of Ilex paraguariensis - chlorogenic acid, rutin and caffeic acid - with HMG-CoA reductase and adipose triglyceride lipase, enzymes involved in lipid metabolism. The findings demonstrated that the extracts effectively resulted in hypoglycemic effects in diabetic rats, reduced triacylglycerol levels in both models, and lowered total cholesterol and LDL-cholesterol in the dyslipidemic model. Molecular docking revealed strong inhibitory potential of all tested compounds, with chlorogenic acid showing the highest binding affinity. Together, these findings highlight the therapeutic promise of I. paraguariensis and C. sinensis in managing metabolic disorders and support further exploration of plant-based interventions.