Efeito do extrato da folha de Lafoensia pacari (Lythraceae) ASt.-Hill no metabolismo de camundongos com obesidade induzida por dieta

Abstract

The Brazilian flora is rich in plants with medicinal properties, which through popular use and specific research, has contributed to the development of a range of homeopathic products that use plants to treat and cure diseases. However, studies that use Brazilian plants in the treatment of metabolic disorders are still scarce in the literature. The objective of the present study was to analyze how Lafoensia pacari acts on the metabolism of mice with obesity induced by high-fat diet. The plant material was collected in the municipality of Bonito de Minas, MG, Brazil respecting all legal precepts. Qualitative tests for the presence of classes of secondary metabolites were performed. As for animal experimentation, Swissmale mice (4 weeks old) participated in the experiments and were divided into two groups (n = 18 each), fed standard and the high-fat diet to induce obesity. After the obesity induction (4 weeks), the animals were distributed into 6 groups where a gavage treatment was carried out for 4 weeks using the L. pacari leaves hydroethanolic extract, the plant suspended in doubly distilled water and a control group receiving only water and ethanol. After the treatment period, the animals were killed and samples of blood and liver tissue were collected. Biochemical and histological analysis were performed. The comparative phytochemical analysis of the plant did not show alteration between the different plant parts. After treatment, greater changes were observed in the animals that received the high-fat diet and the hydroethanolic extract, as in the levels of GOT, GPT, total cholesterol, albumin and creatine that were increased in the standard-fed animals. There were no significant differences in body weight, triglycerides and total cholesterol in the animals that received the high-fat diet. In the histological analysis, the animals that received any treatments with the plant, displayed anincreased number of necrotic cells, thus demonstrating a possible toxicity. We conclude that Lafoensia pacari should be better evaluated for oral consumption and may cause liver damage.