Use of an Extract of Annona muricata Linn to Prevent High-Fat Diet Induced Metabolic Disorders in C57BL/6 Mice

Abstract

Annona muricata Linn, commonly known as graviola, is one of the most popular plants used in Brazil for weight loss. The aim of this study is to evaluate the therapeutic effects of three different doses (50 mg/kg, 100 mg/kg, and 150 mg/kg) of aqueous graviola leaf extract (AGE) supplemented by oral gavage, on obese C57BL/6 mice. Food intake, body weight, an oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT), an insulin sensitivity test, quantification of adipose tissue cytokines, weight of fat pads, and serum biochemical and histological analyses of the liver, pancreas, and epididymal adipose tissue were measured. AGE had an anti-inflammatory effect by increasing IL-10 at doses of 50 and 100 mg/kg. Regarding the cholesterol profile, there was a significant decrease in LDL-cholesterol levels in the AGE 150 group, and VLDL-cholesterol and triglycerides in the AGE 100 and 150 groups. There was an increase in HDL cholesterol in the AGE 150 group. The extract was able to reduce the adipocyte area of the epididymal adipose tissue in the AGE 100 and 150 groups. According to the histological analysis of the liver and pancreas, no significant difference was found among the groups. There were no significant effects of AGE on OGTT and serum fasting glucose concentration. However, the extract was effective in improving glucose tolerance in the AGE 150 group.

Therapeutic Effects of Morinda citrifolia Linn. (Noni) Aqueous Fruit Extract on the Glucose and Lipid Metabolism in High-Fat/High-Fructose-Fed Swiss Mice

“…The weight of each fat pad (mg) was normalized by the body weight (g) of the animal [ 38 ]. The adiposity index was calculated as the total sum of visceral white adipose tissue (g) divided by the final body weight of the animal ×100 and expressed as the percentage of adiposity [ 41 , 42 , 43 ].…”

“…Samples of the liver, pancreas, and epididymal adipose tissue were fixed with 10% formalin solution. After fixation, the specimens were dehydrated, embedded in paraffin, cut in a microtome to a thickness of 5 mm each, and stained with hematoxylin and eosin [ 41 , 43 ]. An expert pathologist performed a blind histological analysis of the liver and pancreas and classified the samples according to a score system [ 45 , 46 ].…”

Effect of Supplementation with Hydroethanolic Extract of Campomanesia xanthocarpa (Berg.) Leaves and Two Isolated Substances from the Extract on Metabolic Parameters of Mice Fed a High-Fat Diet

“…Protein quantification was based on bicinchoninic acid assay (BCA) following the manufacturer's recommendations (BCA Protein Assay kit, Merck, Darmstadt, Germany). The concentrations of IL-6 and IL-10 cytokines (MCYTOMAG-70k) were analyzed and expressed as the ratio of cytokine picograms in relation to protein content (mg of protein) [52].…”

Involvement of fat mass and obesity gene (FTO) in the anti-obesity action of Annona muricata Annonaceae: in silico and in vivo studies

“…The anti-obesity potential of this plant have been well documented [20,21] but there is dearth of information on the likely mechanism of anti-obesity action. Hence, this study aims at investigating the involvement of fat mass and obesity gene (FTO) and STAT-3 in the anti-obesity action of Annona muricata Annonaceae using both in silico and in vivo approach.…”