Effect of Liposomal Protium heptaphyllum (Alb.) March Extract in the Treatment of Obesity Induced by High-Calorie Diet.

Simple Summary: Obesity is a chronic disease caused by excessive consumption of high-calorie foods that is associated with conditions such as dyslipidemia, diabetes, and cancer. Protium heptaphyllum (P. heptaphyllum) is known in folk medicine for its analgesic, anti-inflammatory, and healing properties, and its resin has demonstrated anti-obesity effects. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of liposomes containing the ethyl acetate fraction from P. heptaphyllum leaves on obesity in male Wistar rats. The animals became obese through a high-calorie diet and were treated with a liposome formulation containing P. heptaphyllum for 14 days. The study evaluated several parameters in adipose and liver tissues. Despite some positive effects on liver function and inflammation, the treatment did not attenuate global changes related to obesity, such as weight gain and fat accumulation. This highlights the complexity of obesity treatment and the varied responses of different organs to P. heptaphyllum liposomes. Obesity, a chronic disease, resulted from excessive consumption of high-calorie foods, leading to an energy imbalance. Protium heptaphyllum (P. heptaphyllum) was used in folk medicine for its analgesic, anti-inflammatory, and healing properties. The association of the extract from P. heptaphyllum with nanotechnology was innovative for combining high technology with active ingredients that are easily accessible in the Amazon region. This study evaluated the effect of liposomes containing the ethyl acetate fraction of the crude extract of P. heptaphyllum leaves on obesity. Male Wistar rats treated with a high-calorie diet for 8 weeks to induce obesity received treatment with the liposome formulation containing P. heptaphyllum extract (1 mg/kg/day, via gavage) for 14 days. Morphological, metabolic, redox status, immunological, and histological parameters were evaluated in the adipose and liver tissue of the animals. The groups were divided as follows: C: control; P: liposomes containing extract; O: obese, and OP: obese + liposomes containing extract. The obesity model resulted in increases in body weight, caloric intake, body fat weight, and in the lipid profile. In adipose tissue, P decreased SOD (superoxide dismutase) activity in obese animals. In the liver, a positive modulation of the extract was observed in relation to glucose, amino acids, lactate, hepatoprotective action, and anti-inflammatory activity, with a decrease in interleukin 1β (IL-1β) in obese animals. The results showed an improvement in the functional and inflammatory aspects, but the treatment was not effective in alleviating general changes related to obesity, such as weight gain, fat, glucose, triglycerides, and inflammation in adipose tissue, highlighting the complexity of responses in different organs during obesity and treatment with P. heptaphyllum. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]