Lack of anti-obesity effect of Mimosa pudica seed mucilage on mice fed on a high-fat diet

Abstract

Objective: To investigate the anti-obesity potential of the mucilage of the Mimosa pudica Linn. seed on mice fed on a high-fat diet. Materials and Methods: Two in vivo, that is , lipid emulsion and high-fat diet models were used to investigate the anti-obesity effect in male Swiss albino mice. In the high-fat diet model, the mice were fed a high-fat diet, containing 60% fat, with or without mucilage, for six weeks. The time course of body weight, food intake, organ and fat pad weight (liver and parametrial fat), and serum parameters (triglyceride, total cholesterol, etc.) were measured. In the other model, lipid emulsion with or without mucilage was administered orally, and the plasma triacylglycerol level was measured at 0 to 5 hours. Results: No significant reduction in body weight, organ or fat pad weight (liver and parametrial fat) or serum parameters (triglyceride, total cholesterol) after treatment with mucilage in high-fat diet fed mice was observed. Furthermore the mucilage did not inhibit the elevation of the plasma triacylglycerol level at five hours after the oral administration of lipid emulsion. Conclusion: The present study indicated that the mucilage of the Mimosa pudica seed did not reveal significant anti-obesity action in high-fat diet fed mice.