Abstract
Obesity is a worldwide epidemic that reduces life expectancy; therefore, the search for new alternative and effective treatments is ongoing. The aim of the present investigation was to identify the chemical compounds in the hydroethanolic extract of leaves of Jacaranda decurrens subsp. symmetrifoliolata and to evaluate their toxicity and antiobesity effects. High-performance liquid chromatography was used to identify the chemical constituents, and acute toxicity was evaluated in rats treated with doses of 2 and 5 g·kg−1 body mass. The antiobesity effect was determined in rats with hypercaloric diet-induced obesity. Our results revealed the presence of compounds, such as jacaric, ursolic, and oleic acids, as well as luteolin, quercetin, and kaempferol, in the extract. The acute toxicity tests revealed that rats treated with elevated doses of the extract showed no signs of toxicity. The extract induced reduction in total body mass and the white adipose tissue depots. The obese rats treated with the extract showed an increased fluid intake and feces excretion while their serum total cholesterol and triglyceride levels decreased compared to those in the controls, without any hematological changes. Taken together, the results showed that the constituents of J. decurrens extracts included phenolic compounds and exhibited antiobesity effects with no toxicity.
Highlights
Epidemiological studies carried out by the World Health Organization (2013) indicated that 2.8 million adults died worldwide as a result of being obese and obesity significantly decreases the average lifespan
These substances are described as suppressors of fatty acid synthesis and lipolysis stimulators [5] and are known to reduce body mass, white adipose tissue, cholesterol, and serum and hepatic triglycerides [6]
J. decurrens leaves were collected following the identification of the plant and authorization of the Sistema de Autorizacao e Informacao em Biodiversidade (SISBIO)
Summary
Epidemiological studies carried out by the World Health Organization (2013) indicated that 2.8 million adults died worldwide as a result of being obese and obesity significantly decreases the average lifespan. Obesity is characterized by the hypertrophy of white adipose tissue (WAT) and is closely related to cardiovascular and metabolic alterations [2]. The accumulation of WAT is accompanied by an increase in proinflammatory adipokines [3] and structural alterations resulting from the oxidative stress caused by obesity [4]. Different constituents of vegetable origin have been used as alternative therapies for the treatment and prevention of obesity, including phenolic compounds. These substances are described as suppressors of fatty acid synthesis and lipolysis stimulators [5] and are known to reduce body mass, white adipose tissue, cholesterol, and serum and hepatic triglycerides [6]. Medicinal plants are generally considered to have low toxicological risks, some of their numerous constituents may show dose-dependent toxicity [8] and need to be investigated
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