Abstract: This study evaluated the effect of Mucuna pruriens (MP) administration on
neuroinflammation and behavioral and murinometric parameters in obese rats. Proximate
composition, oligosaccharide and phenolic compound profile of MP were determined. Wistar
adult male rats were randomized into healthy (HG) and obese group (OG). The HG consumed
a control chow diet while OG consumed a cafeteria diet for eight weeks. Then, they were
subdivided into: Healthy (HG); Healthy with MP administration (HGMP); Obese (OG); Obese
with MP administration (OGMP), with the consumption of the respective diets remaining for another
eight weeks, in addition to gavage with MP extract to supplemented groups (750 mg/kg weight).
MP presented a composition rich in proteins and phenolic compounds, especially catechin, in addition
to 1-kestose and levodopa. Supplementation reduced food intake, body weight, and thoracic and
abdominal circumferences in obese rats. MP showed anxiolytic and antidepressant effects and
reduced morphological damage and expression of interleukin 6 in the hippocampus of obese rats.
MP treatment showed satietogenic, slimming, anxiolytic and antidepressant effects, besides to
minimizing hippocampal neuroinflammation in obese rats. Our results demonstrated the potential
anti-obesity of MP which are probably related to the high content of bioactive compounds present in
this plant extract.
