Malícia honey (Mimosa quadrivalvis L.) produced by the jandaíra bee (Melipona subnitida D.) improves anxious-like behaviour and has anti-adiposity effect in cafeteria diet-induced obese rats

Abstract

This study evaluated the anti-adiposity and anxiolytic effects of malícia honey (MH) on obese rats. A total of 40 male Wistar rats were initially randomized into four groups: healthy (HG); obese (OG); and healthy (HGH) and obese (OGH) both treated with malícia honey by gavage (1000 mg/kg). The rats consumed a control or cafeteria diet for 16 weeks. Body weight, food intake, adiposity index, anxious-like behaviour and concentration of organic acids in the brain, intestine and faeces were analysed. Histological analyses were performed on adipose tissue and brain. MH showed procyanidin B1 and B2, epicatechin, and naringenin as the main polyphenols. The OGH had lower caloric intake (18 %), body weight (12 %) and lower adipocyte area compared to the OG. MH increased organic acids in biological materials and prevented the appearance of ischemic neurons. MH had an anti-adiposity effect, protected the nerve tissue and reversed anxious-like behaviour in obesity-induced rats.

Keywords

• Anxiety
• Obesity
• Short-chain fatty acids
• Phenolic compounds
• Prefrontal cortex