Jabuticaba (Plinia sp.) and Its Phenolic Microencapsulated Peel Extract Attenuate Fat Accumulation and Improve Redox Balance and Lipid Profile in C57BL/6 Mice Fed a High-Fat High-Fructose Diet

Abstract

Background/Objectives: Obesity induced by high-fat high-fructose (HFHF) diets is associated with adipose tissue expansion, dysregulated adipogenesis, chronic low-grade inflammation, and oxidative stress. Bioactive compounds have emerged as promising nutritional strategies to mitigate these alterations, although their stability and bioavailability remain limiting factors. This study investigated the effects of different forms of jabuticaba (Plinia sp.) consumption—whole fruit, freeze-dried peel, and phenolic microencapsulated peel extract—on adipose tissue remodeling, oxidative stress, and metabolic parameters in HFHF-fed mice. Methods: Male C57BL/6 mice were fed an HFHF diet for six weeks, followed by six weeks of intervention with the jabuticaba formulations. Results: HFHF feeding induced significant metabolic alterations, evidenced by increased body weight gain, abdominal perimeter, Lee index, and fasting glucose levels. Jabuticaba intake, regardless of formulation, reduced abdominal perimeter, final body weight, and Lee index (p < 0.05) without affecting food intake. Treatment also improved metabolic biomarkers, reducing serum glucose, LDL cholesterol, and triglycerides, while increasing HDL cholesterol (p < 0.05). In addition, jabuticaba decreased visceral and total adipose tissue mass, attenuated adipocyte hypertrophy, and enhanced antioxidant defenses, leading to reduced oxidative damage in adipose tissue. Conclusions: All the jabuticaba formulations exerted protective metabolic effects; the whole fruit showed more consistent systemic metabolic improvements, whereas the microencapsulated peel extract demonstrated greater efficacy in modulating adipose tissue.