ANXIOLYTIC EFFECT OF MUCUNA PRURIENS SUPPLEMENTATION IN OBESE RATS

Obesity is a multifactorial inflammatory disorder accompanied with neuroinflammatory processes that causes behavioral changes such as anxiety. In this regard, Mucuna pruriens (MP), an herbal medicine rich in phenolic compounds, may contribute to control anxious behavior associated with obesity. This study evaluated the effect of MP on anxiety behavior in obese rats. Initially, phenolic profile of MP was evaluated by high performance liquid chromatography(HPLC). It was approved by the Committee on Ethics in Animal Use (No.4657230418) and used 36 rats (±40 days old) randomized into healthy non supplemented group (GS), healthy supplemented with MP (GSMP), obese not supplemented (GO) and obese supplemented with MP (GOMP). GS and GSMP consumed commercial feed for rodents GO and GOMP consumed cafeteria diet and commercial feed. MP supplementation (750mg/kg/day) lasted eight weeks, from eighth to sixteenth week. Controls received 2mL of saline via gavage. In the last week of the experiment, open field and elevated plus maze tests were performed, evaluating parameters related to anxiety behavior (grooming, rearing, locomotor activity and others). HPLC identified 57.83g of catechins, 49.31g of chlorogenic acid, 21.45g of trans-resveratrol and 19.34g of kaempferol/100g of extract, a rich profile of phenolic compounds, which may reduce neuroinflammation and decrease anxious behavior. In plus maze test, GO spent more time in open arms, while GS and GSMP spent more time in center (p<0.05), indicating less anxious behavior. In open field test GS, GSMP and GOMP showed longer time of ambulation than GO, and MP supplementation caused longer grooming time in GSMP and GOMP when compared to GO (p<0.05), indicating less anxious behavior. GS presented higher rearing time (p<0.05), denoting less fear and greater locomotor activity, and GOMP had higher production of fecal boli (p<0.05), demonstrating greater emotional reactivity. Phenolic compounds from MP extract may contribute to reduce neuroinflammation and anxious behavior.