IMPACT OF TESSARIA ABSINTHIOIDES ON PERMEABILITY AND INTESTINAL MICROBIOTA IN AN IN VIVO OBESITY MODEL: PRELIMINARY RESULTS

VALENTINA CORENGIA; FEDERICA CHALAMAN; LUCIANA MAZZEI; CLAUDIA CASTRO; ISABEL QUESADA

Mendoza

Jornada; VII JORNADAS DE INVESTICACIÓN ACES; 2023

FACULTAD DE CIENCIAS MÉDICAS UNCUYO

Obesity is closely associated with dysfunction of the intestinal barrier and alterations in the microbiota, factors that contribute to systemic inflammation in the host. Tessaria abisinthioides (Ta), a plant native to South America with documented ethnopharmacological uses, has been underexplored in relation to intestinal dysfunction and microbiota in obesity and metabolic syndrome.Preliminary results from our research group reveal that Ta protects against increased intestinal permeability both in vivo (metabolic syndrome animal model) and ex vivo (porcine colon). Furthermore, significant reductions in lipid peroxidation (measured by TBARS), cholesterol, triglycerides, and blood glucose were observed. Ta also exhibits anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties by reducing the expression of MCP-1 and NOX2 in mouse intestinal explants.These encouraging findings motivate us to focus on analyzing the effect of Ta on intestinal permeability, microbiota composition, and biochemical variables in an in vivo obesity model.Two-month-old C57BL/6 mice were divided into four groups: the control group received standard food and water ad libitum; another group received standard food supplemented with 30% bovine fat for 8 weeks (DG); the Ta group consumed standard food with a Ta decoction at 300 mg/Kg/day for 8 weeks; and finally, another group received standard food with 30% bovine fat and a Ta decoction at 300 mg/Kg/day for 8 weeks (DG+Ta).To date, our results indicate that DG significantly increased body weight and adiposity compared to the control group. Consumption of Ta significantly reduced body weight and adiposity compared to both the control and DG groups. However, we are still pending the analysis of intestinal permeability and the measurement of intestinal microbiota metabolites to obtain final results.