Abstract Chrysobalanus icaco L . (Caco) is a fruit tree distributed in tropical areas of Africa and America. Its seeds are a rich source of bioactive compounds, and their consumption could have a positive impact on human health during dyslipidemias. The objective of this study was to evaluate the hypolipidemic and antioxidant activity of aqueous extract of Caco seeds (AECS) in an in vivo model of hypertriglyceridemia induced by Triton WR-1339 (tyloxapol). Phytochemical characterization revealed saponin and phytic acid contents of 4730 ±190 µg of saponin equivalents and 1.0±0.05 µg phytic acid equivalents g -1 of sample, respectively. Phenolic acids and flavonoids (ellagic acid, apigenin-7-O-glucuronide, and myricetin, among others) were identified by HPLC-QTOF-MS. AECS was administered once daily for three consecutive days at two doses (150 and 600 mg/kg), in male CD1 mice, where treatment with 600 mg/kg reduced serum triglyceride levels by 64% compared to control, decreased oxidative damage to lipids and proteins, and modulated SOD and GPx activity in hepatic tissue. Complementary in silico molecular docking analyses suggested a potential interaction of apigenin-7-O-glucuronide with lipid metabolism-related enzymes. These findings indicate that C. icaco L. seeds may be considered a promising source of bioactive molecules for the treatment and management of early phases of dyslipidemias, as evidenced in an acute model, but their full potential in chronic stages merits further research.
Arce-Ortiz et al. (2026) studied this question.