ABSTRACT
Roots of Smilax species (Smilacaceae), named as salsaparrilha, have been used for centuries in Asia and Americas as depurative (=for "cleaning blood"), diuretic and sudorific. In southeast of Brazil, roots of Herreria salsaparrilha Mart. (Agavaceae) are also named as salsaparrilha and are used for the same purpose. In this study, we have evaluated the antihyperlipidemic and antihyperglycemic effects of extracts from roots of Smilax brasiliensis and H. salsaparrilha in mice fed with high-refined carbohydrate diet (HC). The chemical composition of the products was determined by LC-DAD and LC-MS. Groups of mice that received the HC diet showed an increase in plasma concentrations of glucose, triglycerides and total cholesterol, compared to control group, without treatment (p<0.05). Triglycerides were reduced significantly (p<0.05) in HC diet group that received 100 and 200mg/kg BW/day of both salsaparrilha extracts. Glucose and total cholesterol levels were reduced significantly (p<0.05) in the groups that received the higher doses (200mg/kg BW/day) of both extracts of salsaparrilha. Extracts of S. brasiliensis, at this dose also showed a higher reduction in triglycerides levels (p<0.001) and promoted a significant reduction in the adipocyte area (p<0.05). Both extracts showed the presence of saponins in LC analysis but S. brasiliensis has a higher concentration of phenolics, mainly chlorogenic acid. The presence of steroidal saponins might be responsible for the reduction of the cholesterol levels, while phenolics in S. brasiliensis by the metabolism of triglycerides and better fat distribution. The result is according with the traditional use of these plants and shown their potential for use as functional foods.
