Nephroprotective activity of the enriched polyphenol extract of Euterpe edulis Martius

Contrast-induced nephropathy (NIC) is directly related to increased morbidity and mortality, and its treatment and prevention might be achieved by the administration of antioxidant products. The juçara palmetto (Euterpe edulis Martius) has fruits rich in phenolic compounds, which are known for their antioxidant activity. This work aimed to evaluate the nephroprotective activity of E. edulis pulp in the NIC animal model. The collected fruits were pulped, their contents of polyphenols and anthocyanins were quantified, and their antioxidant activity were evaluated. The nephroprotective effects were determined based on iodine contrast induction and evaluated by biochemical and histological analyses. The results showed that E. edulis pulp was rich in polyphenols (811 ± 16.7 mg EAG/g) and anthocyanins (181.25 mg/100 g) and had very strong antioxidant activity, as demonstrated by the DPPH (2,2-diphenyl-1-picryl-hydrazyl) method, which revealed an antioxidant activity index (AAI) of 3.4, and the 2,29-azinobis (3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS) method, which revealed an IC50 of 0.59 ± 0.03 mg/mL. In the in vivo experiments, E. edulis pulp tended to provide renal protection and reduce renal dysfunction and tubular morphological lesions in mice after the induction of NIC, and these effects were obtained through the antioxidant activities of the polyphenols in the pulp.

Maltodextrin and Gum Arabic-Based Microencapsulation Methods for Anthocyanin Preservation in Juçara Palm (Euterpe edulis Martius) Fruit Pulp.

The juçara fruits (Euterpe edulis Martius), native to the Atlantic Forest, are rich in anthocyanins. To preserve the anthocyanins in juçara fruit pulp, this study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of microencapsulation by spray drying and freeze drying with maltodextrin (dextrose equivalent 16.5 to 19.5) and gum arabic in different proportions. The obtained microparticles were characterized by quantifying the total polyphenol and anthocyanin contents, by performing differential scanning calorimetry, thermogravimetry, and infrared spectroscopy and by using scanning electron microscopy to analyze the morphology of the particles. The total amount of polyphenols in the fruit pulp was 750 ± 16.7 mg GAE/100 g of the freeze-dried sample. The total anthocyanins in the fruit pulp was 181.25 ± 5.36 (mg/100 g). The microparticles were formed by employing maltodextrin and gum arabic in a 1:1 proportion as the polymeric matrix; the mixtures of pulp and polymeric matrix were prepared in proportions of 2:3 and 2:1, preserving up to 83.69% of the anthocyanin content. Lyophilization of the 2:1 mixture resulted in an anthocyanin content of 116.89 ± 4.43 (mg/100 g), whereas lyophilization of the 2:3 mixture resulted in 151.68 ± 1.39 (mg/100 g) anthocyanin content, which did not differ from the value obtained by spray drying the 2:3 mixture (150.76 ± 5.79 (mg/100 g)). Thermal analyses showed that the microparticles obtained by freeze drying at a ratio of 2:3 presented greater resistance to degradation with increasing temperature. The incorporation of the pulp in the polymeric matrix was demonstrated by IR analyses. Microparticles obtained by freeze drying showed the formation of various-sized flakes, whereas those obtained by spray drying were spherical in shape. Microencapsulation is a possible alternative for improving the stability of the anthocyanins in this fruit.

Essential Oil from the Resin of Protium heptaphyllum: Chemical Composition, Cytotoxicity, Antimicrobial Activity, and Antimutagenicity.

BACKGROUND: Protium heptaphyllum (Aubl.) March is popularly used as an analgesic and anti-inflammatory agent. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to evaluate the chemical composition of P. heptaphyllum essential oil, its cytotoxicity in a breast cancer cell line (MCF-7), antimicrobial activity, and its antimutagenicity in vivo. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The chemical composition of the essential oil collected in three 3 years was determined by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. The cytotoxicity was evaluated using a 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide assay. Annexin V conjugated with fluorescein isothiocyanate, caspase-3, and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) assays were performed to evaluate apoptosis and inflammatory events. The antimutagenic activity at doses of 25, 50, and 100 mg/kg was determined using a micronucleus test in murine bone marrow. RESULTS: The essential oil showed a predominance of monoterpene compounds, being the terpinolene, p-cymene-8-ol, and p-cymene, present in the essential oil extracted in the 3 years. The essential oil showed a protection against cyclophosphamide-induced genotoxicity, and the cytotoxicity index polychromatic erythrocytes/normochromatic erythrocytes ratio in animals treated with oil at all doses (1.34 ± 0.33; 1.15 ± 0.1; 1.11 ± 0.13) did not differ from the negative control animal (1.31 ± 0.33), but from the cyclophosphamide group (0.61 ± 0.12). Cytotoxicity, at a concentration of 40.0 µg/mL, and antimicrobial activity were not observed for the essential oil (minimum inhibitory concentration ≥0.5 mg/mL). The essential oil did not change the levels of caspase-3 in the TNF-α level. CONCLUSION: The essential oil showed antimutagenic activity due to its chemical composition. SUMMARY: Terpinolene, p-cymene-8-ol, and p-cymene are the main constituents of the essential oil of P. heptaphyllum collected within 3-yearsThe essential oil of P. heptaphyllum did not show antimicrobial activity (MIC >0.5 mg/mL) against E. coli, S. aureus, E. faecalis, and C. albicansThe essential oil of P. heptaphyllum has activity against S. mutans (MIC = 0.5 mg/mL)The essential oil showed a protection against cyclophosphamide-induced genotoxicity in the micronuclei assay. Abbreviations used: GC-MS: Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry, MTT: 3-(4,5dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide, Annexin V-FITC: Annexin V conjugated with fluorescein isothiocyanate, TNF-α: Tumor necrosis factor alpha, MIC: Minimum Inhibitory Concentration.