Abstract

ABSTRACT

Erythrina mulungu (EM) is a Southern Brazilian plant commonly used in folk medicine as sedative, hypnotic, hypotensive, analgesic and as anti-convulsivant. NRG® (HERBALIFE) is a commercial product that contains maltodextrin, black tea, guarana, and caffeine, and its use is to increase metabolism rate and caloric burns and thus helps to lose weight. The lifestyle of modern societies leads people to seek alternatives to weight loss and, on the other hand, lead to the need to consume products that reduce anxiety. For this reason, the aim of this study was to compare the effects of EM and NRG® on the behavior and nutritional status of Wistar rats. After approval by the Ethics Committee, thirty male Wistar rats were divided in G1 (Control group that received water and feed ad libitum), G2 (Group treated with Erythrina mulungu solution (1g of EM extract/200mL of water) and rat feed ad libitum, and G3 (Group treated with NRG® solution (1g of NRG® powder/200mL of water) and rat feed ad libitum). After forty days, animals performed the Elevated Plus Maze (EPM) to the evaluation of anxiety. Body weight was evaluated every 7 days. Our results showed no significant differences among the groups when performing the Elevated Plus Maze but G2 and G3 increased body weight at the end of the experimental protocol. Substances commonly used by the population for specific purposes does not always produce the expected results as they may not have the quality needed to present the effects shown in the literature. Our data show that the two products did not produce significantly different behavioral effects in the animals. In addition, substances that claim to reduce anxiety like EM or that are used as thermogenic should not increase weight gain in animals that received the same amount of food.