Efeitos Benéficos da Suplementação com Extracto de Ilex Paraguariensis (Erva Mate) em Ratos Saudáveis

Abstract

The extract of Ilex paraguariensis has been consumed since ancient times, however, only in the last decade has it begun to be studied. The purpose of the research was to investigate the in vivo effects of I. paraguariensis extract on basal metabolism in rats. Experiments were carried out with male Wistar rats, orally supplemented for 45 days (0.7 g/kg BW). Serum levels of glucose, triglycerides, cholesterol, calcium, creatinine, alkaline phosphatase and transaminases were analyzed. Histopathological studies of the organs of interest were also performed. The resultsshowed that weight gain was similar in the three groups of animals and body weight did not differ significantly in the supplemented groups from the control group. A significant decrease in total cholesterol and an increase in HDL cholesterol levels were observed in the supplemented animals.Histologically, there is no evidence of liver or kidney tissue damage in the rats supplemented with I. paraguariensis. A revista Nutrição em Pauta está indexada na Base de Dados DEDALUS da ESALQ/USP-.