Abstract

SUPPLEMENTATION WITH THE YACON ROOT EXTRACT (SMALLANTHUS SONCHIFOLIUS) IMPROVES LIPID, GLYCEMIC PROFILE AND ANTIOXIDANT PARAMETERS IN WISTAR RATS HYPERCHOLESTEROLEMIC

Patrícia Martinez Oliveira, Ritiele P. Coelho, Bruna C. Pilar, Alessandra M. Golke, Angélica A. Güllich, Jacqueline da Costa Escobar Piccoli and Vanusa Manfredini*

ABSTRACT

Cardiovascular diseases (CVD) are the leading cause of death worldwide, and dyslipidemia is one of the main risk factor. Feeding is recognized as the most important intervention in the prevention of pathologies. A food which has been highlighted is the Yacon (Smallanthus sonchifolius) a tuberous root that has large amounts of fructooligosaccharides (FOS) and polyphenols, substances that can bring benefits to human health. The aim of this study was to evaluate the hypolipemic and antioxidant effects in vivo of the Yacon roots extract. For this study it were used male wistar rats, divided into 7 groups: G1: normal diet (healthy); G2: hypercaloric diet (control); G3: oral suspension of simvastatin 10 mg/kg (SIM); G4: Yacon extract 20mg/kg (YE20); G5: Yacon extract 40mg/kg (YE40); G6: YE20 + SIM; G7: YE40 + SIM. The lyophilized extracts were administered once daily by gavage for 14 consecutive days. The hematological and biochemical parameters of oxidative stress were determined by classical methodologies. The extract administration (40 mg/kg) of the Yacon root improved lipid and glycemic profile, decreased weight gain and levels of cardiac markers (CK, CK-MB, LDH, homocysteine). It also showed a decrease in lipid peroxidation, protein carbonyls and frequency of micronucleus, as well as an increase in antioxidant defenses (CAT, SOD, GPx, GSH, vitamin C, polyphenols) in the blood. Moreover, supplementation of Yacon showed no hepatotoxic or nephrotoxic effect during the study period. The results suggest that the lyophilized Yacon roots extract has hypoglycemic, hypolipidemic and antioxidant activity, showing a promising food.

Keywords: Antioxidants, Cardiovascular Diseases, Oxidative Stress, Yacon.