Capacidade anabólica de Mucuna pruriens em ratos treinados

Abstract

Mucuna pruriens (MP) has demonstrated the ability to increase spermatogenesis and testicular weight in animal model and therefore came to be marketed with the promise of stimulating testosterone biosynthesis even without scientific proof. Thus, this study aimed to test the ability of MP on synthesis of testosterone and verify effects on lipid profile, oxidative stress, liver function and body composition in trained rats. It was produced flour and alcoholic extract of MP, which had nutritional composition evaluated. Wistar rats (n=35) were used to test anabolic activity of MP. They were randomized into control sedentary (CS), trained control (CT), sedentary supplemented with MP (MPS), and trained supplemented with MP (MPT). Trained animals performed resistance exercise protocol during ten weeks and supplemented animals received 250 mg of extract of MP/kg/day. Food consumption and body weight were assessed weekly and weight of liver, testes and visceral fat, total cholesterol and fractions, triglycerides (TG), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), creatine kinase (CK), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH ), malondialdehyde (MDA) and animals body composition were measured by absorptiometry dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry. MP extract showed 7.6 g of fat, 36 g of carbohydrate, 43.4 g of protein and minerals such as potassium, iron, phosphorus and calcium. Phytochemical analysis indicated the presence of antioxidants. Chronic supplementation of MP alone or associated with training did not affect biosynthesis of testosterone, testicular development, muscle damage and lipid peroxidation induced by training or body composition. Hepatic markers remained unchanged, but there was a reduction of HDL-C by 19.7% between CS and MPS, 15% between MPT and MPS and 19.9% between CT and MPS (p<0.05). However, also decreased the total cholesterol in 14.7% between CT and MPS (p<0.05), 6.1% between CT and MPT (p<0.01), VLDL-C in 7.9% between CS and CT and 14.9% between CT and MPS (p<0.05) and 55.1% between CT and MPT (p<0.01), TG 52.4% between MPT and CS (p<0.05), 62.5% between CT and MPT and 56.2% between CT and MPS (p<0.01) and visceral fat in 31.3% between CS and MPS, 28.2% between CS and CT (p<0.05), 33.1% between CS and MPT (p<0.01). Reduction in food consumption was observed only in trained groups from the fourth week until the end of treatment. It was concluded that chronic supplementation of MP associated with training did not show anabolic properties and reduced serum HDL-C, but decreased food intake, weight of visceral fat, total cholesterol, VLDL-C and TG.