Values are estimated based on the diet formulation and published nutrient composition of tiger nut powder. Energy was calculated using Atwater conversion factors (4 kcal/g for protein and carbohydrate; 9 kcal/g for fat) and was not determined by direct chemical analysis [13].
Declarations
Acknowledgments
The authors gratefully acknowledge the valuable contributions of the students of the Nutrition Department, Faculty of Applied Health Sciences Technology, Pharos University in Alexandria, for their assistance in experimental procedures and laboratory work. Their dedication and support were instrumental in the successful completion of this study. Artificial intelligence-based tools were used solely to improve the clarity and language of the manuscript. Specifically, ChatGPT was used for language editing. The authors take full responsibility for the scientific content, data interpretation, and conclusions presented in this manuscript. No artificial intelligence tool was used to generate original scientific content, analyze data, or draw conclusions.
Author contributions
DMAZ: Conceptualization, Methodology, Supervision, Validation, Formal analysis, Writing—original draft, Writing—review & editing. SS: Investigation, Data curation, Formal analysis, Visualization, Writing—original draft. BHE: Methodology, Resources, Validation, Writing—review & editing. BAB: Investigation, Data curation, Visualization. AAS: Methodology, Validation, Resources, Writing—review & editing. All authors have read and approved the final manuscript and agree to be accountable for all aspects of the work.
Conflicts of interest
The authors declare that there is no conflict of interest.
Ethical approval
All animal experimental procedures were approved by the Unit of Research Ethics Approval Committee (UREAC) of Pharos University, Alexandria, Egypt (Approval No.: 215). The study was conducted in accordance with the ARRIVE guidelines and the National Institutes of Health (NIH) Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals. Appropriate measures were taken to minimize animal suffering, and all procedures were performed under anesthesia where applicable.
Consent to participate
Not applicable.
Consent to publication
Not applicable.
Availability of data and materials
The datasets generated and/or analyzed during the current study are available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request.
Funding
This research did not receive any specific grant from funding agencies in the public, commercial, or not-for-profit sectors.
Open Exploration maintains a neutral stance on jurisdictional claims in published institutional affiliations and maps. All opinions expressed in this article are the personal views of the author(s) and do not represent the stance of the editorial team or the publisher.
References
Berdún R, Obis È, Mota-Martorell N, Bassols A, Valent D, Serrano JCE, et al. High-Fat Diet-Induced Obesity Increases Brain Mitochondrial Complex I and Lipoxidation-Derived Protein Damage.Antioxidants. 2024;13:161. [DOI] [PubMed] [PMC]
Sharifi-Rad M, Anil Kumar NV, Zucca P, Varoni EM, Dini L, Panzarini E, et al. Lifestyle, Oxidative Stress, and Antioxidants: Back and Forth in the Pathophysiology of Chronic Diseases.Front Physiol. 2020;11:694. [DOI] [PubMed] [PMC]
Duan Y, Zeng L, Zheng C, Song B, Li F, Kong X, et al. Inflammatory Links Between High Fat Diets and Diseases.Front Immunol. 2018;9:2649. [DOI] [PubMed] [PMC]
Zhang YJ, Li S, Gan RY, Zhou T, Xu DP, Li HB. Impacts of Gut Bacteria on Human Health and Diseases.Int J Mol Sci. 2015;16:7493–519. [DOI] [PubMed] [PMC]
Aggarwal N, Kitano S, Puah GRY, Kittelmann S, Hwang IY, Chang MW. Microbiome and Human Health: Current Understanding, Engineering, and Enabling Technologies.Chem Rev. 2023;123:31–72. [DOI] [PubMed] [PMC]
Yang F, Feng B, Niu YJ, Hu CY, Meng YH. Fu instant tea ameliorates fatty liver by improving microbiota dysbiosis and elevating short-chain fatty acids in the intestine of mice fed a high-fat diet.Food Biosci. 2021;42:101207. [DOI]
Monjotin N, Amiot MJ, Fleurentin J, Morel JM, Raynal S. Clinical Evidence of the Benefits of Phytonutrients in Human Healthcare.Nutrients. 2022;14:1712. [DOI] [PubMed] [PMC]
Zhang P. Influence of Foods and Nutrition on the Gut Microbiome and Implications for Intestinal Health.Int J Mol Sci. 2022;23:9588. [DOI] [PubMed] [PMC]
Selma-Royo M, García-Mantrana I, Collado MC, Perez-Martínez G. Intake of Natural, Unprocessed Tiger Nuts (Cyperus esculentus L.) Drink Significantly Favors Intestinal Beneficial Bacteria in a Short Period of Time.Nutrients. 2022;14:1709. [DOI] [PubMed] [PMC]
Edo GI, Onoharigho FO, Jikah AN, Oloni GO, Samuel PO, Rapheal OA, et al. Cyperus esculentus (tiger nut): An insight into its bioactive compounds, biological activities, nutritional and health benefits.Food Chem Adv. 2023;3:100511. [DOI]
Begitschke EG, Wang CJ, Young AA, Tucker KA, Henry GM. Yellow nutsedge (Cyperus esculentus) tuber production and viability in response to postemergence herbicides.Weed Sci. 2025;73:e29. [DOI]
Zommara MA, Swelam S, Raya-Álvarez E, Imaizumi K, Elmahdy A, Alkhudhayri DA, et al. Nutritional and potential health benefits of chufa oil, olive oil, and anhydrous milk fat against gallstone disease in a C57BL/6N mouse model.Front Nutr. 2024;11:1445484. [DOI] [PubMed] [PMC]
Yu Y, Lu X, Zhang T, Zhao C, Guan S, Pu Y, et al. Tiger Nut (Cyperus esculentus L.): Nutrition, Processing, Function and Applications.Foods. 2022;11:601. [DOI] [PubMed] [PMC]
Pelegrín CJ, Ramos M, Jiménez A, Garrigós MC. Chemical Composition and Bioactive Antioxidants Obtained by Microwave-Assisted Extraction of Cyperus esculentus L. By-products: A Valorization Approach.Front Nutr. 2022;9:944830. [DOI] [PubMed] [PMC]
Wu Y, Mao Q, Zhao G, Ye F. Tiger nut ( Cyperus esculentus ) starch: extraction, composition, structure, properties, modification and uses.Sustain Food Technol. 2024;2:635–51. [DOI]
Edo GI, Samuel PO, Nwachukwu SC, Ikpekoro VO, Promise O, Oghenegueke O, et al. A review on the biological and bioactive components of Cyperus esculentus L.: insight on food, health and nutrition.J Sci Food Agric. 2024;104:8414–29. [DOI] [PubMed]
Mahmod SAA, Sabry SM. Protective Effect of Tiger Nut (Cyperus esculentus L.) on Hypercholesterolemia Rats.Home Econ J. 2021;37:23–44. [DOI]
Sankarganesh P, Bhunia A, Ganesh Kumar A, Babu AS, Gopukumar S, Lokesh E. Short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) in gut health: Implications for drug metabolism and therapeutics.Med Microecol. 2025;25:100139. [DOI]
Mamun MAA, Rakib A, Mandal M, Singh UP. Impact of a High-Fat Diet on the Gut Microbiome: A Comprehensive Study of Microbial and Metabolite Shifts During Obesity.Cells. 2025;14:463. [DOI] [PubMed] [PMC]
Bancroft JD, Gamble M. Theory and practice of histological techniques. Elsevier Health Sciences; 2008.
Chauhan M, Maniya H, Mori P, Nagpal R, Tirgar P, Kumar V. Assessment of multi-strain probiotics in regulating diet-induced obesity in Balb/c mice model.Int J Obes (Lond). 2026;50:202–12. [DOI] [PubMed]
Acharjee M. Cultural, biochemical and microscopic evaluation of some common microorganisms isolated from different environmental sources.J Adv Microbiol Res. 2023;4:5–9.
Furukawa S, Fujita T, Shimabukuro M, Iwaki M, Yamada Y, Nakajima Y, et al. Increased oxidative stress in obesity and its impact on metabolic syndrome.J Clin Investig. 2004;114:1752–61. [DOI] [PubMed] [PMC]
Auberval N, Dal S, Bietiger W, Pinget M, Jeandidier N, Maillard-Pedracini E, et al. Metabolic and oxidative stress markers in Wistar rats after 2 months on a high-fat diet.Diabetol Metab Syndr. 2014;6:130. [DOI] [PubMed] [PMC]
Kesh SB, Sarkar D, Manna K. High-fat diet-induced oxidative stress and its impact on metabolic syndrome: a review.Asian J Pharm Clin Res. 2016;9:47–52.
Lecomte V, Kaakoush NO, Maloney CA, Raipuria M, Huinao KD, Mitchell HM, et al. Changes in Gut Microbiota in Rats Fed a High Fat Diet Correlate with Obesity-Associated Metabolic Parameters.PLOS ONE. 2015;10:e0126931. [DOI] [PubMed] [PMC]
Charradi K, Elkahoui S, Limam F, Aouani E. High-fat diet induced an oxidative stress in white adipose tissue and disturbed plasma transition metals in rat: prevention by grape seed and skin extract.J Physiol Sci. 2013;63:445–55. [DOI] [PubMed] [PMC]
Noeman SA, Hamooda HE, Baalash AA. Biochemical Study of Oxidative Stress Markers in the Liver, Kidney and Heart of High Fat Diet Induced Obesity in Rats.Diabetol Metab Syndr. 2011;3:17. [DOI] [PubMed] [PMC]
Ibitoye OB, Aliyu NO, Ajiboye TO. Tiger nut oil-based diet improves the lipid profile and antioxidant status of male Wistar rats.J Food Biochem. 2018;42:e12587. [DOI]
Abdussalam FO, Gbadegesin OP. Hypolipidemic effects of tigernut (Cyperus esculentus) on albino rat. In: Oyedeji AO, editor. Book of Proceedings of the 6th SPAS National Conference. Ilaro (Nigeria): The Federal Polytechnic, Ilaro; 2023. pp. 182–7.
Yang L, Yang J, Kong X, Tang Q, Song R, Zhou K, et al. Akkermansia muciniphila outer membrane protein Amuc_0904 modulates intestinal homeostasis by promoting goblet cell differentiation.Gut Microbes. 2026;18:2587405. [DOI] [PubMed] [PMC]
Keenan MJ, Janes M, Robert J, Martin RJ, Raggio AM, McCutcheon KL, et al. Resistant starch from high amylose maize (HAM-RS2) reduces body fat and increases gut bacteria in ovariectomized (OVX) rats.Obesity (Silver Spring). 2013;21:981–4. [DOI] [PubMed] [PMC]
Stevens JF, Maier CS. The chemistry of gut microbial metabolism of polyphenols.Phytochem Rev. 2016;15:425–44. [DOI] [PubMed] [PMC]
Gao F, Cheng C, Li R, Chen Z, Tang K, Du G. The role of Akkermansia muciniphila in maintaining health: a bibliometric study.Front Med. 2025;12:1484656. [DOI] [PubMed] [PMC]
Rebezov M, Usman Khan M, Bouyahya A, Imran M, Tufail T, Loretts O, et al. Nutritional and Technical Aspect of Tiger Nut and Its Micro-constituents: An Overview.Food Rev Int. 2023;39:3262–82. [DOI]
Smith GI, Mittendorfer B, Klein S. Metabolically healthy obesity: facts and fantasies.J Clin Invest. 2019;129:3978–89. [DOI] [PubMed] [PMC]
Onuoha NO, Ogbusua NO, Okorie AN, Ejike CECC. Tigernut (Cyperus esculentus L.) “milk” as a potent “nutri-drink” for the prevention of acetaminophen-induced hepatotoxicity in a murine model.J Intercult Ethnopharmacol. 2017;6:290–5. [DOI] [PubMed] [PMC]
