Zuccagnia punctata extract inhibits the pancreatic lipase and reduces triglycerides levels in a metabolic syndrome model

AGOSTINA VALOY; CATIANA ZAMPINI; MARÍA INES ISLA; SUSANA JEREZ

Tafi Viejo

Jornada; XXXVI Jornadas Científicas - Asociación de Biología de Tucumán; 2019

Asociación de Biología de Tucumán

Hypertriglyceridemia (HTG) is one of the main metabolic syndrome (MS) characteristics that increase atherosclerosis risk. Pancreatic lipase (PL) plays an important role in the digestion of triglycerides (TG) from the diet, and its inhibition constitutes a key therapeutic target.Zuccagnia punctata (Zp), an Argentinean endemic species, is rich in flavonoids, mainly chalcones, which, according to in vitro studies, are PL inhibitors. The aim of this investigation is to determine the effect and mechanism of action of oral administration of two doses of Zp standardized extract (ZpE) on TG levels in an MS model developed by the consumption of a high-fat diet at 18% (HFD). Male rabbits were separated into four groups: control diet (CD), HFD, HFD treated with 2.5 mg/day of ZpE (HFD + 2.5Zp), and HFD treated with 5 mg/day of ZpE (HFD + 5Zp) for 6 weeks. Serum TG was determined. PL extract was obtained from the pancreas, and the inhibitory activity of ZpE and ZpE rich in chalcones (ZpEch) was determined by using olive oil as substrate and orlistat (PL inhibitor) as the positive control. HFD group showed high TG levels compared to CD (mg/dL): CD: 113.0 ±14.3 vs. HFD: 191.0 ±29.9. The administration of 2.5 mg/day of ZpE had no effect, but the higher dose decreased TG values (HFD + 5Zp: 113.0 ± 3.4 mg/dL). ZpE, ZpEch and orlistat inhibited PL (ZpE: 33.4 ±5.4 %; ZpEch: 32.5 ±13.8 %; Orlistat: 55.2 ±9.5 %). These results suggested that the daily intake of ZpE can prevent HTG and its associated effects. The mechanism involved the inhibition of PL, and the lack of difference between ZpE and ZpEch indicated that chalcones would not be the only one responsible for this effect.