Hypolipidemic effect of camu-camu juice in rats

Abstract

Objective: This study evaluated the potential hypolipidemic effect of camu-camu juice (Myrciaria dubia (Kunth) McVaugh) in dyslipidemic rats. Methods: Seventy-two adult male Wistar rats (Rattus norvegicus var. albinus Berkenhout) with an average weight of 200g were used. The experiment was divided into two phases: induction of dyslipidemia and treatment. Dyslipidemia was induced by a high-fat diet (commercial feed plus 10.0% lard, 1.0% cholesterol and 0.1% cholic acid) given to the animals for 21 days. In the treatment phase, 40 dyslipidemic rats were randomly divided into five groups (n=8). Of these, three were subjected to different treatments with camu-camu juice: 0.4mL.kg-1, 4.0mL.kg-1 and 10mL.kg-1 for 14 days. The other two groups were kept as parameters: a basal group (normolipidemic) and a hyperlipidemic group receiving 10mL.kg-1 of quercetin (standard treatment). The potential hypolipidemic effect of camu-camu juice was assessed by the following measurements: plasma lipoproteins (triacylglycerol, total cholesterol, high density lipoprotein-cholesterol and low density lipoproteincholesterol), fecal and liver cholesterol, and measurements of feed intake and body weight. Results: All dosages of camu-camu juice were hypolipidemic, reducing triacylglycerol, total cholesterol, fecal cholesterol excretion and hepatic cholesterol. The best results were obtained by the 10 mL.kg-1 dosage of camu-camu juice. Rat body weight and food intake did not vary significantly during the treatment. Conclusion Camu-camu juice has a hypolipidemic effect in dyslipidemic rats. These results can be used as reference for future studies on this Amazonian fruit.