Agro-industrial by-products have recently gained scientific interest as sustainable sources of bioactive compounds with therapeutic value. Coconut peel and peanut skin are rich in polyphenols, flavonoids, tannins, and proanthocyanidins that exhibit strong antioxidant and metabolic regulatory properties. Emerging experimental evidence indicates that these phytochemicals influence lipid metabolism, adipocyte differentiation, and energy homeostasis through multi-target mechanisms. Studies demonstrate that bioactive constituents from these plant wastes inhibit pancreatic lipase activity, regulate adipogenic transcription factors, enhance fatty acid oxidation, and improve metabolic signaling pathways such as AMPK activation. Additionally, their ability to modulate oxidative stress and gut microbiota composition further supports their metabolic benefits. The complementary phytochemical profiles of coconut peel and peanut skin suggest a possible synergistic interaction that may enhance anti-obesity efficacy when used in combination. Their utilization in nutraceutical or functional food formulations also promotes environmental sustainability through waste valorization. Although preclinical findings are promising, further investigations including toxicity assessment, dosage standardization, and well-designed clinical trials are necessary to establish their translational potential in metabolic disorder management.
Swetha* et al. (Wed,) studied this question.