GOJI BERRY (LYCIUM BARBARUM) TEA MAY AFFECT NEGATIVELY SOME PARAMETERS IN WISTAR RATS

Abstract:

Lycium barbarum (Goji berry) is a plant commonly used in folk medicine with properties that include antiaging, anticancer, antioxidant, antidiabetes, antihyperlipidemia, antithrombosis, improvement of immune response and reduction of infections. The use of Goji Berry (GB) tea is becoming very popular in Brazil mainly with the purpose of reduction the body weight and improvement of glycaemia and lipid profile. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of goji berry (GB) tea on the metabolic profile and some aspects of the behavior of Wistar rats. Animals were randomly divided in control group and group treated with GB tea. At the end of 60 days the animals performed the Elevated Plus Maze for behavioral assessment in order to evaluate the anxiety index. After that, blood was collected to the evaluation of the biochemical profile. Our results showed that goji berry tea may assist in reducing the body weight gain even without reducing the consumption of food but significantly increased glycemic levels and did not interfere in the lipid profile as well as in the visceral fat. GB tea also increased the anxiety behavior in the animals of GB group. The increase in the glycaemia contradicts the findings in the literature probably because the composition of the tea is different from the pure GB fruit or polysaccharides. We suggest more studies in order to evaluate the different products of GB that are available in the supermarkets once they may not bring the desired effects.

Año de publicación:

2016

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Fuente:

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