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Abstract

Pharmacological activities have been reported for the fruit, leaf and root extracts of Morinda citrifolia L. (Noni); however, the plant has not been widely studied for its antidyslipidemic effects on obesity and metabolic syndrome (MS). Objective: to evaluate the effects of aqueous M. citrifolia leaf extract on obesity and adipose tissue cell dynamics associated with triacylglycerol and adiponectin levels in Wistar rats with MS. Methodology: four groups of rats were used; control, metabolic syndrome (MS), M. citrifolia (Mc) and M. citrifolia plus sucrose (Mc-Suc). The dose of extract was 200 mg/kg of body weight for 2 weeks. Results: we observed differences in the weights of abdominal fat between the Mc and MS groups. The Mc-Suc and Mc groups showed significantly lower triacylglycerol concentrations than the MS group. Moreover, the adiponectin serum concentrations were higher in control, Mc-Suc and Mc groups than in the MS group. Finally, the MS group showed an increase in the percentage of fat cells with areas between 1001 and 1501 µm 2 compared with the Mc and Mc-Suc groups. Conclusion: ingestion of the aqueous extract from dried M. citrifolia leaves decreases abdominal fat and triacylglycerols associated with increased adiponectin levels and changes to adipose tissue cell dynamics.

Properties and Applications of Morinda citrifolia (Noni): A Review

“…The recent focus on the development and use of natural products as a medical option for the treatment of obesity in animal models has demonstrated that M. citrifolia may be an alternative for the treatment of this disease (Inada et al, 2017). Ida et al (2017) verified the effects of the dry leaf extract of M. citrifolia on the dynamics of adipose tissue cells associated with the levels of triacylglycerol and adiponectin in Wistar rats, with consequent evaluation of the levels of obesity in rats suffering from the metabolic syndrome (MS). Among the groups of populations of rats used in this study, differences in abdominal fat weights were observed between the groups treated with noni leaf extract and the control group, without the treatment with the extract.…”