EFFECTS OF GUAVA LEAF (PSIDIUM GUAJAVA L.) EXTRACT ON ENDOTHELIUM DYSFUNCTION IN OBESE MICE

Objectives: Recent studies showed that Spanish guava leaves are a source of phenolic compounds that have been related to the prevention and treatment of Diabetes Mellitus[1],[2]. Thus, the aim of this work was to evaluate the effects of an extract from guava leaves, on vascular dysfunction in obese mice. Methodology: an extract from guava leaves was characterized by HPLC-DAD-ESI-TOF-MS, and it was tested on obese mice fed a high fat-rich diet to evaluate the vascular dysfunction. Results: Firstly, the analysis of the extract by HPLC-DAD-ESI-TOF-MS revealed that flavonols represented a 49.2 % from the sum of phenolic in the leaves, followed by gallic/ ellagic acid derivatives (29.3 %) and flavan-3-ols (21.5 %). Moreover, major compounds were the isomers reynoutrin, guajaverin and avicularin. Secondly, the administration of the extract (5 mg/kg) to obese mice did not alter weight evolution, but improved the glucose tolerance test. Also, it caused a significant amelioration in all the metabolic markers evaluated in plasma. Moreover, the endothelial dysfunction was reversed in the extract-treated group. Conclusions: the beneficial effects in obese mice of guava leaf extract, related to its phenolic composition, were associated to an improvement in the altered vascular functions that occur in obesity.