Ethanolic extract of Lippia graveolens stem reduce biochemical markers in a murine model with metabolic syndrome.

Metabolic Syndrome (MetS) is a risk to develop metabolic-chronic degenerative disease, it is important to find natural alternatives to help decrease the risk. Mexican oregano has a traditional use in Mexican food, moreover, has pharmacologic effects that can help to reduce risk the metabolic syndrome. The aim of this work was to determine the effect of Mexican oregano ethanolic extract in metabolic syndrome in murine model. Ethanolic extract of Mexican oregano (Lippia graveolens) stem (Ext) had a favorable effect on biochemical markers in a murine model of MetS, induced by injection of monosodium glutamate (MSG). From newborn female mice, two groups were formed: control and the MSG groups, which received a dosage of 2 mg/kg of MSG via subcutaneous injection at the second and fourth postnatal day (PD 2,4), and 4 mg/kg at the PD 6, 8, 10 to induce obesity. On week 13, a part of the MSG group received Ext (group MSG + Ext) at 300 mg/kg, administered orally daily from week 13 to week 18. The results indicated that ethanolic extract of Lippia graveolens stem decreases the percentage of body fat, waist circumference, and body weight gain as well as cholesterol, serum triglyceride concentrations and systolic and diastolic pressure. Insulin and leptin hormone values showed a significant effect with the Ext administration. However, hepatic lipoperoxidation levels of MSG and MSG + Ext groups did not show any statistically significant differences between them, both being higher than the control group. Taking in consideration the results obtained in this study, it is concluded that the administration of Ext had a beneficial effect in the murine model with MetS. This is the first study demonstrating the potential of the polar fraction Lippia graveolens stem in MetS.

Modulation of the mRNA of the Nlrp3 inflammasome by Morin and PUFAs in an obesity model induced by a high-fat diet.

Morin and PUFAs are bioactive compounds provided by the diet, with multiple biological activities, among which are the modulation of inflammation in various chronic diseases. The effect of supplementation with Morin, PUFAs, and the mixture of both on the levels of mRNA expression of the Nlrp3 inflammasome as well as genes associated with inflammation and lipid metabolism, in an obesity model through a high-fat diet, during 8 weeks of administration were evaluated. The three treatments negatively regulated the expression of Nlrp3 mRNA. Morin showed a better effect by modulating downwards the expression of the mRNA of Il-18, Casp-1, Pparγ, and Serbp-1c, in addition to positively modulating the expression of the mRNA of Ppar-α, as well as Adiponectin. The combined treatment of Morin plus the PUFAs maintained similar levels under normal conditions for the mRNA expression of Tlr4 and Ucp2.