Water-soluble extract of Coleus barbatus modulates weight gain, energy utilization and lipid metabolism in secondary biliary cirrhosis: an experimental study in young rats.
OBJECTIVE
To test if a water extract of Coleus barbatus (WEB) has any effect on weight gain, food energy utilization and lipid metabolism in young rats with obstructive cholestasis.


METHODS
Forty 21 day old (P21) Wistar rats, in groups of 10, were submitted to one of the following treatments: a sham operation with daily water or WEB administration, double ligature and resection of the bile duct with daily water or WEB administration. At P49 they were submitted for euthanasia when the following were determined: ingested feed (IF), energy utilization (EU) and weight gain (WG) from P29 to P49, together with total serum cholesterol (TC) and triacylglycerol (TG) concentrations, liver wet weight (LWW) and fat content (LFC). Two Way ANOVA and the S.N.K. test for paired comparisons were employed to study the effects of cholestasis and those of WEB and their interactions (p < or = 0.05).


RESULTS
Cholestasis, independently of WEB, and WEB, independently of cholestasis both reduced IF, EU, and WG but there was no significant interaction between the two factors. Cholestasis, independently of WEB, increased LWW, LFC, the TC and TG The WEB, independently of cholestasis, reduced these values, and there was a significant interaction between the two factors; such that these effects were more accentuated in animals with cholestasis.


CONCLUSIONS
The WEB reduced IF, WG, and EU, both in the presence and absence of cholestasis in the same proportion. It also partially inhibited the increase in LWW, LFC, TC and TG caused by cholestasis.
Battochio
Ana Paula Ronquesel
AP
Department of Pediatrics, Botucatu School of Medicine, the São Paulo State University. apbattochio@ig.com.br
Sartori
Maria Salete
MS
Coelho
Claudio Antonio Rabello
CA
D000818:Animals; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000378:metabolism*; D031330:Coleus / Q000737:chemistry*; D003135:Common Bile Duct; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D002149:Energy Intake / Q000187:drug effects*; D008105:Liver Cirrhosis, Biliary / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D008517:Phytotherapy / Q000379:methods; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000378:metabolism*; D015430:Weight Gain / Q000187:drug effects*
D010936:Plant Extracts; D014280:Triglycerides; D002784:Cholesterol