Abstract

Obesity is a multifactorial disease, defined by the excessive accumulation of body fat, causing negative consequences for health. Metabolic syndrome (MS) is characterized by the association between abdominal obesity, insulin resistance, hypertension, and hyperlipidemia. Experimental models are essential to elucidate the pathophysiology, development, and treatment of the disease. The objective of the study was to evaluate the effects of maná-cubiu extract (Solanum sessiliflorum Dunal) in experimental models of diet-induced MS. Male Wistar rats received a high-fat, high-calorie diet for 24 weeks, with exception of the healthy control group, which received commercial AIN-93 chow, and both groups were supplied with filtered water. After this period, the animals began to receive daily gavages containing 150 mg of extract/kg or 300 mg of extract/kg for another 8 weeks. The control group received only metformin (150mg/kg). Body weight, bioelectrical impedance (BIA), body circumferences and the Lee index were used to assess body composition. The study was approved by the Ethics Committee under protocol nº 501. The experimental group treated with 150mg/kg of the extract showed weight reduction in the first month of treatment, followed by an average reduction of 54 grams per animal. The group treated with 300mg/kg of the extract suffered weight reduction only after the second month of treatment (on average 9g/animal). This same group and the group treated with metformin were the only ones to reduce the percentage of body fat, comparing the two evaluation moments. The results suggest that maná-cubiu has a potential therapeutic use in obesity, and that the evaluation methods in animal models need to be better standardized.

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