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Planta Med 2017; 83(03/04): 285-291
DOI: 10.1055/s-0042-114222
Biological and Pharmacological Activity
Original Papers
Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York

Amyrins from Protium heptaphyllum Reduce High-Fat Diet-Induced Obesity in Mice via Modulation of Enzymatic, Hormonal And Inflammatory Responses

Karine Maria Martins Bezerra Carvalho
1   Post-Graduate Program in Medical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Federal University of Ceará, Fortaleza, Ceará, Brazil
2   Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, Federal University of Ceará, Fortaleza, Ceará, Brazil
,
Tiago Sousa de Melo
3   Faculty of Pharmacy, Odontology and Nursing, Federal University of Ceará, Fortaleza, Ceará, Brazil
,
Karina Moura de Melo
2   Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, Federal University of Ceará, Fortaleza, Ceará, Brazil
,
Ana Luiza Gomes Quinderé
2   Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, Federal University of Ceará, Fortaleza, Ceará, Brazil
,
Francisca Tuelly Bandeira de Oliveira
2   Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, Federal University of Ceará, Fortaleza, Ceará, Brazil
,
Ana Flávia Seraine Custódio Viana
2   Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, Federal University of Ceará, Fortaleza, Ceará, Brazil
,
Paulo Iury Gomes Nunes
2   Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, Federal University of Ceará, Fortaleza, Ceará, Brazil
,
Josiane da Silva Quetz
4   Haroldo Juaçaba Hospital, Cancer Institute of Ceará, Fortaleza, Ceará, Brazil
,
Daniel de Araújo Viana
5   Pathology and Legal Medicine Laboratory, Faculty of Veterinary Science, State University of Ceará, Fortaleza, Ceará, Brazil
,
Armenio André de Carvalho Almeida da Silva
6   Department of Organic Chemistry, Federal University of Piauí, Teresina, Piauí, Brazil
,
Alexandre Havt
2   Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, Federal University of Ceará, Fortaleza, Ceará, Brazil
,
Said Gonçalves da Cruz Fonseca
3   Faculty of Pharmacy, Odontology and Nursing, Federal University of Ceará, Fortaleza, Ceará, Brazil
,
Mariana Helena Chaves
6   Department of Organic Chemistry, Federal University of Piauí, Teresina, Piauí, Brazil
,
Vietla Satyanarayana Rao
2   Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, Federal University of Ceará, Fortaleza, Ceará, Brazil
,
Flávia Almeida Santos
2   Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, Federal University of Ceará, Fortaleza, Ceará, Brazil
› Author Affiliations
Further Information

Publication History

received 08 April 2016
revised 15 July 2016

accepted 29 July 2016

Publication Date:
15 August 2016 (online)

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Abstract

Obesity remains a global problem. In search of phytochemicals that have antiobesity potential, this study evaluated α,β-amyrin, a triterpenoid mixture from Protium heptaphyllum, on high-fat diet-induced obesity in mice. Groups of mice (n = 8) were fed a normal diet or a high-fat diet, and were orally treated or not treated with either α,β-amyrin (10 or 20 mg/kg) or sibutramine (10 mg/kg) for 15 weeks. Variables measured at termination were body weight, visceral fat accumulation, adipocyte surface area, peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma, and lipoprotein lipase expressions in adipose tissue, the levels of plasma glucose and insulin, the satiety hormones ghrelin and leptin, the digestive enzymes amylase and lipase, and the inflammatory mediators TNF-α, interleukin-6, and MCP-1. Results showed that α,β-amyrin treatment resulted in lower high-fat diet-induced increases in body weight, visceral fat content, adipocyte surface area, peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma, and lipoprotein lipase expressions, and blood glucose and insulin levels. Additionally, the markedly elevated leptin and decreased ghrelin levels seen in the high-fat diet-fed control mice were significantly modulated by α,β-amyrin treatment. Furthermore, α,β-amyrin decreased serum TNF-α and MCP-1. These results suggest that α,β-amyrin could be beneficial in reducing high-fat diet-induced obesity and associated disorders via modulation of enzymatic, hormonal, and inflammatory responses.

Key words

Protium heptaphyllum - Burseraceae - α,β-amyrin - pentacyclic triterpene - high-fat diet - antiobesity
 

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