Mucuna pruriens treatment shows anti-obesity and intestinal health effects on obese rats

This study evaluated anti-obesity effect and intestinal health of obese rats treated with MP, focusing on food consumption and somatic, biochemical, and histological parameters. 32 Wistar rats with ± 40 days of age were used, initially randomized into Healthy group (HG, n = 16) that consumed control diet and Obese group (OG, n = 16) that consumed cafeteria diet for eight weeks. Then they were subdivided into four groups: healthy (HG, n = 8); healthy treated with MP (HGMP, n = 8); obese (OG, n = 8); obese treated with MP (OGMP, n = 8), with consumption of the respective diets remaining for another eight weeks, in addition to gavage with MP to treated groups (750 mg / kg). Consumption and body weight were monitored weekly. Glucose and insulin tolerance tests were performed, and feces were collected for bacterial count and quantification of organic acids. Animals were euthanized, blood collected for biochemical analysis, organs and adipose tissue for histological analysis and carcasses for body composition. OGMP demonstrated lower caloric intake (17%), body weight (14%), fat mass (44%), triglycerides (68%), insulin (58%), leptin (40%), C-reactive protein (75%) and alpha1-glycoprotein acid (62%) and increased HDL (45%) compared to GO. Reversal of changes in liver and adipose tissues was observed in OGMP. MP treatment increased counts of lactic acid bacteria and amount of organic acids in feces. MP treatment demonstrated anti-obesity effect, with improvement in body composition, biochemical profile, and intestinal health of obese rats.