Objective:

The objective of this study was to determine the effect of the supplementation with Passiflora ligularis (granadilla) extract on some low-grade chronic inflammation markers associated with overweight in a model of albino mice fed a high-fat diet.

Materials and methods:

thirty-six albino mice were used, distributed in an unrestrictedly random design in 3 treatments and 12 repetitions. The treatments represented a group with a control diet, a second treatment with a high-fat diet, and a group that received high-fat food and supplementation with 3g/L of Passiflora ligularis extract in the drinking water. After 49 days, the variables food consumption, water consumption, and weight gain were evaluated, in addition to the serum concentration of the inflammation markers IL-6 and TNF-α.

Results:

Supplementation with Passiflora ligularis extract reduced (p < 0.05) the weight gain of mice compared to animals that received the high-fat diet without supplementation. Serum levels of TNF-α on supplemented mice did not show differences with neither of both control groups while the amounts of IL-6 were not affected by the treatments.

Conclusion:

The concentration of 3g/L in the drinking water of the of Passiflora ligularis extract decreased the weight gain produced by the increase fat in diet and reduced the measurement of the serum inflammation marker TNF-α indicating a beneficial effect on the risk associated with chronic low-grade inflammation.

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