Passion fruit (Passiflora edulis) seed oil improves high-fat diet-induced hyperlipidemia and hepatic steatosis through modulation of hepatic lipid metabolism and gut microbiota

Passion fruit ( Passiflora edulis ) seed oil (PFSO) is a rich source of unsaturated fatty acids, phytosterols, and polyphenols with underexplored in vivo bioactivity. This study chemically characterized PFSO and evaluated its impacts on lipid dysregulation and gut microbiota in high-fat diet (HFD)-fed mice using a multi-omics approach. Results demonstrated that PFSO dose-dependently improved HFD-induced obesity, hyperlipidemia, and hepatic steatosis. At the molecular level, PFSO downregulated hepatic lipogenic genes and stimulated fatty acid β-oxidation. Furthermore, PFSO favorably remodeled the gut microbiota, enriching Akkermansia and Dubosiella while reducing Allobaculum . Fecal metabolomics revealed distinct shifts in amino acid metabolite profiles, notably the enrichment of melatonin, 4-(2-amino-3-hydroxyphenyl)-2,4-dioxobutanoic acid, and glucosamine-6-phosphate. These microbial and metabolite shifts were highly correlated with improved lipid homeostasis. Collectively, PFSO ameliorates hyperlipidemia and hepatic steatosis through coordinated modulation of hepatic lipid metabolism and the gut microbiota-metabolome axis, supporting its application as a functional food ingredient.