Effects of Mucuna milk (Mucuna pruriens L.) on body weight and serum biochemistry in rats fed hyperlipidaemic diet

Abstract Background Hyperlipidemia and oxidative stress is recognized as risk factor for several diseases such as COVID-19. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of oral administration of Mucuna milks on body weight gain, blood lipid levels and redox status in rat model fed high fat diet. Methods Mucuna milks were produced from two varieties of Mucuna seeds. Three controls (I, II, III) made of normal rats fed with standard diet, rats fed with high fat diet and rats fed with high fat diet submitted to oral administration of atorvastatin (10 mg/kg/day). In addition, four test groups (IV, V, VI, VII) made with rats fed high fat diet and received oral administration of 20 mL of vegetable milk per day (10 mL at morning and 10 mL at afternoon). Results Results confirmed that rats on the high fat diet only showed an increasing of about 224% of their initial body weight, abdominal fat and a significant (p < 0.05) increases of lipid peroxidation (MDA) in liver and heart after five weeks. However, oral administration of Mucuna milk inhibit weight gain by about 66% and abdominal fat (54.53–55.60%). The reduction of LDL, VLDL, Triglycerides and Total cholesterol was remarkable in groups of rat treated with vegetable milk, about 67% reduction for dehulled Mucuna milks (DCM, DVM) and 69% reduction for whole Mucuna milks (WCM, WVM). Hyperlipidemic group rats had higher ASAT (134.17 UI/L) and ALAT (101.72 UI/L) levels, but Mucuna milks improved the ASAT and ALAT levels in rats. The reduction of MDA (70 − 50%) was related to phenolic content of Mucuna milks. significant and negative correlations was observed between catalase and MDA (r= -0.86; p = 0.05); MDA and SOD (r = − 0.60; p = 0.05). Conclusion This study suggests that treatment with Mucuna milks have anti-hyperlipidemia properties and increased the activity of antioxidant enzymes.