Obesity is considered an important risk factor for several disorders, such as diabetes mellitus, systemic arterial hypertension, dyslipidemia, and atherosclerosis, which are associated with inflammation and oxidative stress as a trigger factor. Passiflora edulis contains important bioactive compounds, such as phenolics, carotenoids, vitamin C, and polyamines in pulp, leaves, seeds, and bark. Aim: To evaluate the effect of bark of Passiflora edulis (BPe) on body composition, and metabolic and oxidative stress parameters in genetically obese mice. Methods: Obese male db/db mice (n = 14 animals) received normal feeds and water ad libitum for 8 weeks. Then, animals were randomly divided to continue either receiving standard chow (obese, n = 7 (OB)) or feed with standard chow plus bark Passiflora edulis (BPe) (obese + BPe, n = 7 (OB + BPe)) for 8 more weeks, totaling 16 weeks. BPe was added to chow (7 g of BPe/kg of chow corresponding to 1.5 g/kg of body weight). The parameters evaluated in animals included food and caloric intake, body weight, body fat, plasma glucose, triglycerides, and total cholesterol. Malondialdehyde and antioxidant capacity were evaluated in plasma and organs. Groups were compared by Student t-test, with p < 0.05. Results: BPe reduced visceral and subcutaneous fat deposit and adiposity index, cholesterol and triglyceride levels, ameliorated the antioxidant capacity, and reduced malondialdehyde (MDA) levels. Conclusion: the bark of Passiflora edulis was effective in improving body composition, and metabolic and antioxidant parameters in obese mice.

Obesity is recognized worldwide as a complex metabolic disorder that has reached epidemic proportions and is often associated with a high incidence of cardiovascular diseases. To study this pathology and evaluate cardiac function, several models of diet-induced obesity (DIO) have been developed. The Western diet (WD) is one of the most widely used models; however, variations in diet composition and time period of the experimental protocol make comparisons challenging. Thus, this study aimed to evaluate the effects of two different types of Western diet on cardiac remodeling in obese rats with sequential analyses during a long-term follow-up. Male Wistar rats were distributed into three groups fed with control diet (CD), Western diet fat (WDF), and Western diet sugar (WDS) for 41 weeks. The animal nutritional profile and cardiac histology were assessed at the 41st week. Cardiac structure and function were evaluated by echocardiogram at four different moments: 17, 25, 33, and 41 weeks. A noninvasive method was performed to assess systolic blood pressure at the 33rd and 41st week. The animals fed with WD (WDF and WDS) developed pronounced obesity with an average increase of 86.5% in adiposity index at the end of the experiment. WDF and WDS groups also presented hypertension. The echocardiographic data showed no structural differences among the three groups, but WDF animals presented decreased endocardial fractional shortening and ejection fraction at the 33rd and 41st week, suggesting altered systolic function. Moreover, WDF and WFS animals did not present hypertrophy and interstitial collagen accumulation in the left ventricle. In conclusion, both WD were effective in triggering severe obesity in rats; however, only the WDF induced mild cardiac dysfunction after long-term diet exposure. Further studies are needed to search for an appropriate DIO model with relevant cardiac remodeling.

Severe food restriction (FR) impairs cardiac performance, although the causative mechanisms remain elusive. Since proteins associated with calcium handling may contribute to cardiac dysfunction, this study aimed to evaluate whether severe FR results in alterations in the expression and activity of Ca²⁺-handling proteins that contribute to impaired myocardial performance. Male 60-day-old Wistar–Kyoto rats were fed a control or restricted diet (50% reduction in the food consumed by the control group) for 90 days. Body weight, body fat pads, adiposity index, as well as the weights of the soleus muscle and lung, were obtained. Cardiac remodeling was assessed by morphological measures. The myocardial contractile performance was analyzed in isolated papillary muscles during the administration of extracellular Ca²⁺ and in the absence or presence of a sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca²⁺-ATPase (SERCA2a) specific blocker. The expression of Ca²⁺-handling regulatory proteins was analyzed via Western Blot. Severe FR resulted in a 50% decrease in body weight and adiposity measures. Cardiac morphometry was substantially altered, as heart weights were nearly twofold lower in FR rats. Papillary muscles isolated from FR hearts displayed mechanical dysfunction, including decreased developed tension and reduced contractility and relaxation. The administration of a SERCA2a blocker led to further decrements in contractile function in FR hearts, suggesting impaired SERCA2a activity. Moreover, the FR rats presented a lower expression of L-type Ca²⁺ channels. Therefore, myocardial dysfunction induced by severe food restriction is associated with changes in the calcium-handling properties in rats.

Introdução: a obesidade é considerada um importante fator de risco para vários distúrbios, como diabetes mellitus, hipertensão arterial sistêmica, dislipidemia, aterosclerose, que estão associados à inflamação e ao estresse oxidativo como fator desencadeante. Passiflora edulis contém importantes compostos bioativos, como fenólicos, carotenóides, vitamina C e poliaminas na polpa, folhas, sementes e casca. Objetivo: Avaliar o efeito do tratamento com Passiflora edulis (BPe) sobre a composição corporal e os parâmetros metabólicos e de estresse oxidativo em camundongos geneticamente obesos. Metodologia: os camundongos db/db machos obesos (n = 14 animais) receberam alimentação normal e água ad libitum durante 8 semanas. em seguida, os animais foram divididos aleatoriamente para continuar recebendo ração padrão (obeso, n = 7 (OB)) ou ração padrão com casca Passiflora edulis (BPe) (obeso + BPe, n = 7 (OB + BPe)) por mais 8 semanas, totalizando 16 semanas. o acrescimo de casca de Passiflora foi na dose de 7 g de casca Passiflora edulis /kg de ração, correspondente a 1,5g /kg de peso corporal) .Os parâmetros avaliados nos animais incluíram consumo alimentar, peso corporal, gordura corporal e glicose, triglicerídeos e colesterol total plasmáticos. o malondialdeído (MDA) e a capacidade antioxidante foram avaliados em plasma e órgãos e os grupos foram comparados pelo teste T-Student, com p < 0,05. Resultados: a casca de Passiflora edulis reduziu o depósito de gordura visceral e subcutânea e os índices de adiposidade, colesterol e triglicerídeos, melhorando a capacidade antioxidante e reduzindo os níveis de MDA. Conclusão: a casca de Passiflora edulis foi eficaz para melhorar a composição corporal, parâmetros metabólicos e antioxidantes em camundongos obesos.