Abstract
No scientific report proves the action of the phytochemicals from the mangrove tree Rhizophora mangle in the treatment of diabetes. The aim of this work is to evaluate the effects of the acetonic extract of R. mangle barks (AERM) on type 2 diabetes. The main chemical constituents of the extract were analyzed by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and flow injection analysis electrospray-iontrap mass spectrometry (FIA-ESI-IT-MS/MS). High-fat diet (HFD)-fed mice were used as model of type 2 diabetes associated with obesity. After 4 weeks of AERM 5 or 50 mg/kg/day orally, glucose homeostasis was evaluated by insulin tolerance test (kiTT). Hepatic steatosis, triglycerides and gene expression were also evaluated. AERM consists of catechin, quercetin and chlorogenic acids derivatives. These metabolites have nutritional importance, obese mice treated with AERM (50 mg/kg) presented improvements in insulin resistance resulting in hepatic steatosis reductions associated with a strong inhibition of hepatic mRNA levels of CD36. The beneficial effects of AERM in an obesity model could be associated with its inhibitory α-amylase activity detected in vitro. Rhizophora mangle partially reverses insulin resistance and hepatic steatosis associated with obesity, supporting previous claims in traditional knowledge.
Highlights
On the Brazilian coast, mangrove is one of the most representative biomes
The mobile phase consisting of a water-0.1% formic acid (FA) solution was chosen for the determination of AERM with many peaks on the chromatogram within 70 min
5 mg·kg5−1mg·kg (HFD5); (D) obese mice treated with AERM 50 mg·kg−1 (HFD50); steatosis measurement; measurement; triglycerides content
Summary
On the Brazilian coast, mangrove is one of the most representative biomes. This ecosystem is characterized as a transitional environment between terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems, and it is continuously threatened by real estate speculation and harbor construction [1]. Molecules 2018, 23, 2114 potential sources of biologically active compounds and have wide application in ethnopharmacological practices. The habitat of these species is under stressful environmental conditions (salinity, temperature, tidal fluctuations, and anoxic soil). These plants are morphologically and physiologically adapted to this inhospitable environment. They might present many substances which protect them from these adverse environmental [2]
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