Antidiabetic and antilipidemic effects of Manilkara zapota

J Med Food. 2015 Mar;18(3):385-91. doi: 10.1089/jmf.2013.0170. Epub 2014 Sep 3.

Abstract

Manilkara zapota is a tropical evergreen tree belonging to the Sapotaceae family; its parts are used in alternative medicine to treat coughs and colds and possess diuretic, antidiarrheal, antibiotic, antihyperglycemic, and hypocholesterolemic effects. There are no studies on metabolic profile after using the fruit, and this study aimed at evaluating the effects of the leaf and pulp of M. zapota fruit on the metabolic profile of Wistar rats. Male rats were treated for 50 days with M. zapota leaf juice or fruit juice, after which their biochemical and body composition profiles were analyzed (glycemia, triglycerides, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-c), insulin, leptin, aspartate transaminase, alanine aminotransferase, Lee Index, and body mass index). Our results indicate significantly lower levels of glycemia, insulin, leptin, cholesterol, and triglycerides and augmented levels of HDL-c in animals treated with the leaves or fruit of this plant. The percentage of weight gain also declined in animals treated with M. zapota fruit pulp. The use of the M. zapota may be helpful in the prevention of obesity, diabetes, dyslipidemia, and their complications.

Keywords: Manilkara zapota; Wistar rats; glycemia; insulin; leptin; lipids.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Blood Glucose / metabolism
  • Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental / blood
  • Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental / prevention & control*
  • Dyslipidemias / blood
  • Dyslipidemias / prevention & control*
  • Fruit
  • Hyperglycemia / blood
  • Hyperglycemia / drug therapy
  • Hypoglycemic Agents / pharmacology
  • Hypoglycemic Agents / therapeutic use*
  • Hypolipidemic Agents / pharmacology
  • Hypolipidemic Agents / therapeutic use*
  • Insulin / blood
  • Leptin / blood
  • Lipids / blood
  • Male
  • Manilkara*
  • Metabolome
  • Obesity / prevention & control
  • Phytotherapy*
  • Plant Extracts / pharmacology
  • Plant Extracts / therapeutic use*
  • Plant Leaves
  • Rats, Wistar
  • Weight Gain / drug effects

Substances

  • Blood Glucose
  • Hypoglycemic Agents
  • Hypolipidemic Agents
  • Insulin
  • Leptin
  • Lipids
  • Plant Extracts