ESTUDO DO POTENCIAL TERAPÊUTICO DOS TRITERPENOS PENTACÍCLICOS ÁCIDO BETULÍNICO, ÁCIDO OLEANÓLICO E ÁCIDO URSÓLICO NO TRATAMENTO DA OBESIDADE EM CAMUNDONGOS / STUDY OF THE THERAPEUTIC POTENTIAL OF pentacyclic triterpenes betulinic acid, oleanolic acid and ursolic acid IN THE TREATMENT OF OBESITY IN MICE

Célio Lima de Melo

Obesity is a global epidemic with an increasing prevalence in both developed and developing countries. It is associated with considerable burden of ill health and an increased risk for coronary artery disease and metabolic syndrome. The rich potential of nature for obesity treatment has not yet been fully explored, although scientific studies suggested the beneficial effects of innumerable phytochemicals. Currently, the class of chemical compound called terpenes has been the focus of bigger attention as they present a wide variety of biochemical and pharmacological actions capable to reduce the excess body fat and to prevent diabetes and heart disease. The objective of this work was to evaluate the probable antiobesity effect of pentacyclic triterpenes, betulinic acid (BA), ursolic acid (UA) and oleanolic acid (OA)), isolated from traditional medicinal plants of North and Northeast of Brazil. Mice were fed with normocaloric or hypercaloric diets and simultaneously treated with drugs under investigation in concentration of 50 mg/L ad libitum during 15 weeks. Weekly body weights, daily water and food consumption were recorded and at the end of this period; heparinized blood samples were collected for determination of laboratory tests (glucose, GLU; total cholesterol, TC; HDL-Cholesterol, HDL-C; triglycerides, TG; ghrelin; leptin; insulin; α-amylase; lipase; aspartate amino transferase, AST; alanine amino transferase, ALT and alkaline phosphatase, ALP). In the second protocol, mice were first induced obesity and then they were treated during 15 days with triterpenes BA, UA or OA at a dose of 10 mg/kg, by gavage. At the end, heparinized blood samples were collected to analyse the serum levels of GLU, HDL-C, TC, TG, α-amylase, lipase and insulin. In the third experiment, mice were submitted to normocaloric diet and simultaneously treated with drugs in concentration of 50mg/L ad libitum during 4 weeks. The same process used in second experiment was repeated to obtain blood samples to determine biochemical parameters. Data were expressed as mean standard error from mean (S.E.M) adopting as significant results had presented p<0.05 (ANOVA and Tukey post test). In the first experimental model, hyperlipidemic and hypercaloric diet promoted obesity in mice showed a significant (p<0.05) increase in body weight equivalent to 23.82% when compared to animals fed on standard diet. Results showed reduction in GLU, TC, TG and ghrelin serum levels, increase in HDL-C, insulin and leptin levels added of inhibition in α-amylase and lipase activity. Animals treated with triterpenes improved significantly these metabolic alterations and excessive body fat deposition in relation to animals that received only hypercaloric diet. BA, UA and OA prevented liver and adypocytes alterations induced by hypercaloric diet. Mice treated with triterpenes by oral gavage after obesity induction presented reduction in GLU, TC and TG serum levels as well as the inhibition of α-amylase and lipase activities. In the third experimental protocol, BA, UA and OA were capable to reduce glucose levels of animals fed with standard diet. BA was efficient in decreasing the TC values. Results from this study indicate that the BA, UA and OA at non-toxic doses inhibited the development of visceral obesity and improve dyslipidaemia and hyperglycemia.

AUTOR(ES)

FONTE

DATA DE PUBLICAÇÃO

RESUMO

ASSUNTO(S)

ACESSO AO ARTIGO

Documentos Relacionados