DOI: https://doi.org/10.14710/jgi.14.2.111-117

The effect of red dragon fruit (hylocereus polyrhizus) juice on leptin levels in overweight model of Sprague Dawley rats

Departmen of Nutrition, Universitas Bumigora, Mataram, Nusa Tenggara Barat, Indonesia

Received: 6 Aug 2025; Revised: 10 Dec 2025; Accepted: 19 Jan 2026; Available online: 30 Jun 2026; Published: 30 Jun 2026.

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Abstract

 

ABSTRACT

Background: Obesity is strongly linked to elevate leptin levels and oxidative stress, both of which contribute to the development of various metabolic disorders. Leptin, a hormone that regulates metabolism and appetite, becomes less effective in obese individuals due to leptin resistance, thereby exacerbating metabolic dysfunction.

Objective: This study aims to evaluate the effect of red dragon fruit (Hylocereus polyrhizus) juice on leptin levels in Sparague Dawley rats using an overweight model.

Method: This experimental study used a pre and post-test control group design and involved six treatment groups, including a normal group, a negative control group, a positive control group (orlistat), and three treatment groups receiving different doses of red dragon fruit juice (3.5 g, 7 g, and 10.5 g per 200 g body weight). The intervention was carried out for 14 days following a 14- day induction of obesity using a high-fat and high-carbohydrate diet. Leptin levels were measured before and after the intervention. Leptin examination was performed using the Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA) method, and all data were analyzed using paired t-test, one-way ANOVA, and post hoc tests with a significance level of p < 0.05.

Results: The results showed that administration of red dragon fruit juice significantly reduced leptin levels (p<0.001) in all treatment groups. The greatest reduction was observed in the group receiving the 10.5 g dose, with an average decrease of 75.03%, which was nearly equivalent to the orlistat group that reduced leptin levels by 79.93%.

Conclusion: Red dragon fruit juice has the potential to serve as a non-pharmacological agent in reducing leptin levels and oxidative stress under obesity conditions, with an effectiveness approaching that of orlistat.

Keywords: Red dragon fruit juice; leptin; obesity; sprague dawley rats

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Keywords: Red dragon fruit juice; leptin; obesity; sprague dawley rats

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