Avaliação do efeito protetor da Bergenina e do extrato seco de Endopleura uchino no tratamento da obesidade e da esteatose hepática induzida em camundongos

Abstract

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) has been considered the most common form of liver disease in the western world, due to the increased prevalence of obesity in developed and developing countries. Endopleura uchi (Huber) Cuatrec is a native Amazonian tree species with proven herbal properties in several works by researchers from the region and around the world. From its shell is isolated a substance called Bergenin, which has among its properties, antioxidant, hepatoprotective and hypolipidemic activities. The aim of this study was to evaluate the protective effect of bergenin and dry extract of endopleura uchi on the treatment of induced NAFLD in mice and obesity. NAFLD and obesity were induced in male C57BL / 6J mice by Hypercaloryc and Hyperlipid Feed (HF). Sixty male C57BL / 6J mice were divided into 10 groups of six animals each, with the following characteristics: GM1, Negative Control; GM2, Sham Group: Positive Control; GM3, fed HF for eight weeks and then treated with dry Endopleura uchi extract, 200mg/kg/day for seven weeks; GM4, similar to the above, treated with 100mg/kg/day of E. uchi extract; GM5, HF-fed for seven weeks and treated concomitantly with 200mg/kg/day of Endopleura uchi dry extract; GM6, similar to GM5, treated with 100mg/kg/day to verify a potential prophylactic effect at both doses. Groups GM7 and GM8, fed HF for eight weeks and then treated with 50 and 25mg/kg/day for seven weeks with aqueous Bergenin solution respectively; GM9 and GM10, similar to GM5 and GM6 prophylactic groups and treated with aqueous Bergenin solution at doses of 50 and 25 mg/kg/day, respectively. Biochemical examinations of liver function tests and histopathology were performed to prove the anti-obesity effects and treatment of NAFLD of both solutions. Descriptive data analysis was performed and the results are presented in tables, graphs/figures and descriptive measures, such as mean, standard error, among others. To verify the influence of treatments, ANOVA with post hoc test by Student Newman Keuls was used. Having significant influence of the treatments, the Tukey test was used to verify the differences between the means of the groups. In all comparisons, it was considered statistically significant when p <0.05. All statistical calculations were performed using the SPSS Statistics version 14.0 software. As a result, itwas found that HF was efficient in developing obesity and hepatic steatosis (HS) in 100% of the GM2 positive control animals. Both prophylactic and postinduction treatment were effective in containing the development of obesity and HS. In NAFLD and obesity, treatment with both solutions, at their highest doses, was effective in significantly reducing the degree of steatosis, with a 50% reduction in grade 2 steatosis in the 200mg/kg/day of the dry extract of Endopleura uchi and 60% reduction of grade 2 steatosis in the group treated with 50mg/kg/day of Bergenin solution, demonstrating dose dependence in this situation and presenting pharmacological potential to help obese patients with NAFLD.