Oscar Fuentes Mardones, Susana Badilla Wagner and Carlos Céspedes Acuña
University of Biobio, Chile
Maqui (Aristotelia chilensis) is a natural berry from Patagonia region of South America. Due to its huge content of antioxidants it is called as the super-berry. Mapuche ethnia consume maqui to treat health complaints such as skin inflammation, intestinal disorders, sore throats, wound healing and ulcers. The present study evaluated the beneficial effect of hydroalcoholic extract of maqui against vascular reactivity impairment, hyperglycemia and dyslipidemia on high fat fed rats (HFFR). Forty female outbred Wistar rats were fed with a high-fat diet for 16 weeks to induce obesity. Half of them received maqui supplementation (60 mg•Kg-1/day) during the final 8 weeks. Aorta rings of HFFR displayed attenuated vasorelaxation responses to the endothelium-dependent vasodilator acetylcholine (Ach), and reduced nitric oxide (NO) bioavailability. Removal of the endothelium and addition of nitric oxide synthase (NOS) inhibitor NG-methyl-L-arginine (L-NMA) increased the phenylephrine response in obese rats. Sensitivity to sodium nitroprusside (SNP) did not differ between tested groups. Maqui extract markedly amielorated hyperreactivity to phenylephrine, reduced impairments of acetylcholine (ACh)-induced relaxation of aorta and decreased plasma levels of glucose, cholesterol, LDL, triglycerides and accumulation of visceral and subcutaneous fat. The results suggest that maqui extract has remarkable potential to prevent obesity and associated metabolic disorders
Keywords: Aristotelia chilensis, obesity, endothelial dysfunction.