Juice from leaves of cacti of the genus Pereskia: effect on the physiological parameters of Wistar rats

Abstract The objective was to evaluate whether the juice from the leaves of cacti of three species of the genus Pereskia promotes changes in the physiological parameters of Wistar rats. The study was divided into stage 1 (obesity induction with a hypercaloric diet, monosodium glutamate, and sucrose solution), and stage 2 (use of cactus juice). The data of body weight, Body Mass and Lee Indexes, feed intake, adipose tissue mass, and Visceral and Epididymal Fat Indexes were compared by the Tukey test at 5%. Monosodium glutamate and sucrose in association with the hypercaloric diet did not increase adipose tissues. No statistical difference was found between the means of body weight, Body Mass Index and Lee Index, liver weight, and Hepatosomatic Index. Pereskia grandifolia juice promoted a lower total weight gain due to the low feed intake. Pereskia aculeata juice increased the visceral adipose tissue mass. Thus, the Pereskia grandifolia juice presented a better effect on weight gain. These cacti are rich in nutrients and bioactive compounds that can improve food quality, and prevent chronic non-communicable diseases.

摘要 本研究旨在评估三种佩雷斯基亚属（Pereskia）仙人掌的叶片汁液是否会对Wistar大鼠的生理参数产生影响。本实验分为两个阶段：阶段1为通过高热量膳食、谷氨酸钠与蔗糖溶液诱导大鼠肥胖，阶段2为施加仙人掌叶片汁液进行干预。研究采用5%显著性水平的Tukey检验，对大鼠体重、体质量指数（Body Mass Index）、李指数（Lee Index）、摄食量、脂肪组织质量以及内脏与附睾脂肪指数进行组间比较。结果显示，谷氨酸钠与蔗糖联合高热量膳食并未使大鼠脂肪组织质量增加。各组大鼠的体重、体质量指数、李指数、肝脏重量及肝体比（Hepatosomatic Index）均无统计学差异。其中，大花佩雷斯基亚（Pereskia grandifolia）汁液可通过降低摄食量，使大鼠总增重显著降低；而刺叶佩雷斯基亚（Pereskia aculeata）汁液则会增加内脏脂肪组织质量。综上，大花佩雷斯基亚汁液对体重增长的调控效果更优。此类仙人掌富含营养物质与生物活性化合物，可改善食品品质，并预防慢性非传染性疾病。