Yellow passion fruit rind (Passiflora edulis): an industrial waste or an adjuvant in the maintenance of glycemia and prevention of dyslipidemia?

Abstract

The use of plants for the treatment of many disorders is a common practice in Brazil, especially for raw consumption and processed juice. The scientific community has shown increasing interest in these plants due to their phytotherapeutic properties. The aim of this study was to evaluate the biochemical profile (glucose, total cholesterol, HDL-c, LDL-c and triacylglycerol) of male Wistar rats treated with extract of Passiflora edulis rind. The rats were divided into two groups (n=15/group) dubbed the GC/control group and the GT/ treated group. The intake of Passiflora edulis rind powder consisted of twice daily gavage feeding for 30 consecutive days. The values of the biochemical parameters of glucose, total cholesterol and HDL-c differed statistically. It was found that P. edulis can be helpful in controlling total cholesterol and increasing HDL-c levels.