Journal of Functional Foods (Oct 2018)

Mango leaf tea promotes hepatoprotective effects in obese rats

  • Natalia Medina Ramírez,
  • José Humberto de Queiróz,
  • Sônia Machado Rocha Ribeiro,
  • Renata Celi Lopes Toledo,
  • Maria Eliza Castro Moreira,
  • Claudio Lisías Mafra,
  • Laércio dos Anjos Benjamin,
  • Camila de Morais Coelho,
  • Marcia Paranho Veloso,
  • Hércia Stampini Duarte Martino

Journal volume & issue
Vol. 49
pp. 437 – 446

Abstract

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As mango leaf tea contains mangiferin and other bioactive compounds, this study investigated its anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and hepatoprotective effects on rats with high-fat induced obesity. Three groups were established: a control group (AIN93M diet), an obese group (high-fat diet HFD) and a treatment group (HFD with mango leaf tea for 8 weeks). Mango leaf tea increased antioxidant enzymes, total antioxidant capacity, AdipoR2 and PPAR-α mRNA and proteins expressions and, it also inhibited the NF-κB p65 and SREBP1c genes expressions in the liver. This beverage also leads to Cpt1 overexpression and a significant decrease in the accumulation of fat droplets, improving the hepatic steatosis. Molecular docking suggested a positive interaction between mangiferin, the main bioactive compound of mango leaf tea, and PPAR-α. Mango leaf tea exhibited a hepatoprotective effect through activating PPARα and decreasing the NF-κB p65 expressions, reducing oxidative stress and steatosis, and improving the lipid metabolism.

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