The modulating effects of green rooibos () extract on vascular function and antioxidant status in obese Wistar rats.

Purpose: Obesity is associated with the development of risk factors for cardiovascular disease (CVD) and polyphenols have been shown to possess ameliorative effects against obesity-induced CVD risk factors. Rooibos () is rich in polyphenols, therefore we investigated the cardioprotective effects of aspalathin-rich green rooibos (GRT) on obesity-induced CVD risk factors in obese Wistar rats.

Methods: Adult male Wistar rats ( = 20 per group) were fed a control or a high-fat diet (HFD) for 16 weeks and treated with GRT (60 mg/kg/day) for six weeks.