Garcinia pedunculata, a fruit native to Southeast Asia and Northeast India, has been traditionally used in folk medicine for various ailments, but recent years have seen some emerging scientific interest in its potential benefits for metabolic conditions, including non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Several preclinical studies, primarily in vitro and in animal models, suggest that extracts of Garcinia pedunculata may possess hepatoprotective and antioxidant properties. For example, studies in rats have demonstrated that the fruit’s polyphenolic compounds can attenuate hepatic steatosis, decrease oxidative stress markers, and improve serum lipid profiles when the animals are subjected to diets that induce fatty liver. The putative mechanism is thought to involve reduction of lipid peroxidation and modulation of inflammatory cytokines.

However, the evidence supporting the use of Garcinia pedunculata for fatty liver disease is limited almost exclusively to preclinical research. There are currently no published, high-quality clinical trials in humans that confirm efficacy or safety for this indication. Thus, while the use of Garcinia pedunculata for fatty liver disease is trending toward scientific validation, the evidence base remains preliminary. More robust human studies are required before it can be confidently recommended for NAFLD or related liver conditions.