REVISTA BRASILEIRA DE FARMACOGNOSIA-BRAZILIAN JOURNAL OF PHARMACOGNOSY, vol.26, no.2, pp.246-250, 2016 (SCI-Expanded)
Yucca schidigera Ortgies, Asparagaceae, is a herbaceous plant. Due to the high saponin content the powdered branches and leaves are used as natural food additive for human and animal. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of Y. schidigera extracts on plasma leptin, ghrelin, adiponectin, insulin, thyroid hormones and some biochemical parameters in mice fed a high-fat diet. Male Swiss Albino mice were divided into seven equal groups. Group I (negative control group) was given standard diet; Group II was given high-fat diet; Group III was given high-fat diet with carboxymethylcellulose; Groups IV-VII were given hexane, petroleum ether, ethyl acetate, and methanol extracts of Y. schidigera and high fat diet via gastric gavage for 60 days. High-fat diet significantly increased plasma leptin, insulin, free T-3 hormone, glucose, cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein, triacylglyceride, aspartate aminotransferase and alanine aminotransferase levels, and significantly decreased plasma ghrelin, adiponectin and free T-4 hormone levels. On the other hand, hormone levels, lipid profile and biochemical parameters were improved by the administration of the PE extract. Y. schidigera extracts could be used as preventive medicine in nutritional disorders via regulating energy metabolism and hormonal functions. (C) 2016 Sociedade Brasileira de Farmacognosia. Published by Elsevier Editora Ltda. All rights reserved.