BENEFICIAL EFFECTS OF MORINDA CITRIFOLIA LINN. (NONI) LEAF EXTRACT ON OBESITY, DYSLIPIDEMIA AND ADIPONECTINEMIA IN RATS WITH METABOLIC SYNDROME

Pharmacological activities have been reported for the fruit, leaf and root extracts of Morinda citrifolia L. (Noni); however, the plant has not been widely studied for its antidyslipidemic effects on obesity and metabolic syndrome (MS). Objective: to evaluate the effects of aqueous M. citrifolia leaf extract on obesity and adipose tissue cell dynamics associated with triacylglycerol and adiponectin levels in Wistar rats with MS. Methodology: four groups of rats were used; control, metabolic syndrome (MS), M. citrifolia (Mc) and M. citrifolia plus sucrose (Mc-Suc). The dose of extract was 200 mg/kg of body weight for 2 weeks. Results: we observed differences in the weights of abdominal fat between the Mc and MS groups. The Mc-Suc and Mc groups showed significantly lower triacylglycerol concentrations than the MS group. Moreover, the adiponectin serum concentrations were higher in control, Mc-Suc and Mc groups than in the MS group. Finally, the MS group showed an increase in the percentage of fat cells with areas between 1001 and 1501 µm² compared with the Mc and Mc-Suc groups. Conclusion: ingestion of the aqueous extract from dried M. citrifolia leaves decreases abdominal fat and triacylglycerols associated with increased adiponectin levels and changes to adipose tissue cell dynamics.