Signaling Targets Related to Antiobesity Effects of Capsaicin: A Scoping Review.

The search for new antiobesogenic agents is increasing because of the current obesity pandemic. Capsaicin (Caps), an exogenous agonist of the vanilloid receptor of transient potential type 1 (TRPV1), has shown promising results in the treatment of obesity. This scoping review aims to verify the pathways mediating the effects of Caps in obesity and the different methods adopted to identify these pathways. The search was carried out using data from the EMBASE, MEDLINE (PubMed), Web of Science, and SCOPUS databases. Studies considered eligible evaluated the mechanisms of action of Caps in obesity models or cell types involved in obesity. Nine studies were included and 100% (n = 6) of the in vivo studies showed a high risk of bias. Of the 9 studies, 66.6% (n = 6) administered Caps orally in the diet and 55.5% (n = 5) used a concentration of Caps of 0.01% in the diet. In vitro, the most tested concentration was 1 µM (88.9%; n = 8). Capsazepine was the antagonist chosen by 66.6% (n = 6) of the studies. Seven studies (77.8%) linked the antiobesogenic effects of Caps to TRPV1 activation and 3 (33.3%) indicated peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR) involvement as an upstream connection to TRPV1, rather than a direct metabolic target of Caps. The main secondary effects of Caps were lower weight gain (33.3%; n = 3) or loss (22.2%; n = 2), greater improvement in lipid profile (33.3%; n = 3), lower white adipocyte adipogenesis (33.3%; n = 3), browning process activation (44.4%; n = 4), and higher brown adipocyte activity (33.3%; n = 3) compared with those of the control treatment. Some studies have shown that PPAR agonists modulate TRPV1 activity, and no study has evaluated the simultaneous antagonism of these 2 receptors. Consequently, further studies are necessary to elucidate the role of each of these signaling molecules in the antiobesogenic effects of Caps.

Chia seed (Salvia hispanica L.) effects and their molecular mechanisms on unbalanced diet experimental studies: A systematic review.

The aim of this review was to compile evidence and understand chia seed effects on unbalanced diet animal studies and the molecular mechanisms on metabolic biomarker modulation. A systematic review was conducted in electronic databases, following PRISMA recommendations. Risk of bias and quality was assessed using SYRCLE toll and ARRIVE guidelines. Seventeen articles were included. Throughout the studies, chia's main effects are associated with AMPK modulation: improvement of glucose and insulin tolerance, lipogenesis, antioxidant activity, and inflammation. Details about randomization and allocation concealment were insufficient, as well as information about blind protocols. Sample size, chia dose, and number of animals evaluated for each parameter were found to be lacking information among the studies. Based on experimental study data, chia has bioactive potential, and its daily consumption may reduce the risk of chronic disease development, mainly due to the antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, hypoglycemic, and hypolipidemic effects of the seed. PRACTICAL APPLICATION: The consumption of chia seeds may improve lipid profile, insulin and glucose tolerance, and reduce risk of cardiovascular disease. Whole seed or its oil presents positive effect, but the effects of chia oil can act faster than the seed.

Common bean protein hydrolysate modulates lipid metabolism and prevents endothelial dysfunction in BALB/c mice fed an atherogenic diet.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Common beans (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) protein hydrolysate is a source of bioactive peptides with known health benefits. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of common bean protein hydrolysate on lipid metabolism and endothelial function in male adult BALB/c mice fed an atherogenic diet for nine weeks. METHODS AND RESULTS: Male adult mice were divided into three experimental groups (n = 12) and fed with normal control diet; atherogenic diet and atherogenic diet added with bean protein hydrolysate (700 mg/kg/day) for nine weeks. Food intake, weight gain, lipid profile, Atherogenic Index of Plasma, inflammation biomarkers and endothelial function were evaluated. APH group presented reduced feed intake, weight gain, lipid profile, tumor necrosis factor-α, angiotensin II (94% and 79%, respectively) and increased endothelial nitric oxide synthase (62%). CONCLUSIONS: Protein hydrolysate showed hypocholesterolemic activity preventing inflammation and dysfunction of vascular endothelium, in addition to decreasing oxidative stress, indicating an adjuvant effect on reducing atherogenic risk.

Efeito do feijäo preto (Phaseolus vulgaris, L.) sem casca na reduçäo do colesterol sanguíneo de ratos hipercolesterolêmicos / The cholesterol-lowering effect of black beans (Phaseolus vulgaris, L.) without hulls in hypercholesterolemic rats

Estudos com feijao têm demonstrado seu efeito na reduçao de colesterol sangüíneo. O presente trabalho visou investigar o efeito da retirada da casca do feijao preto (Phaseolus vulgaris, L.) na reduçao do colesterol sangüíneo de ratos hipercolesterolêmicos. Foram utilizados 4 grupos de 8 ratos machos, da linhagem Wistar, com peso inicial de 200 g, os quais foram mantidos a +25 graus Celsius e ciclo claro-escuro de 12 horas, por 28 dias. O grupo Padrao foi alimentado com uma dieta basal de caseína. O grupo Controle recebeu a dieta basal adicionada de 1 por cento de colesterol e 0,1 por cento de ácido cólico. O terceiro grupo recebeu dieta semelhante à Controle, substituída, em base seca, por 30 por cento de feijao preto integral (FPI). O último grupo recebeu o equivalente a 30 por cento de feijao, porém, sem casca (FPSC). A adiçao de colesterol e ácido cólico elevou os níveis de colesterol do grupo Controle em 58 por cento, em relaçao ao Padrao. A dieta FPI reduziu os níveis de colesterol sangüíneo total em 15 por cento (nao signigicativo-NS) e a dieta FPSC promoveu reduçao (p<0,05) de 35 por cento, em relaçao ao grupo Controle. Os níveis de HDL-colesterol foram reduzidos (p<0,05) pelas duas dietas de feijao. A dieta FPSC promoveu maior excreçao de colesterol nas fezes (p<0,05), em relaçao à dieta Controle. Isso sugere que o feijao preto sem casca promove uma maior eliminaçao do colesterol do organismo e o feijao integral, embora reduza o colesterol do sangue (NS), o conserva mais na circulaçao êntero-hepática. Os componentes responsáveis pelo efeito hipocolesterolemiante do feijao parecem estar localizados, em sua maioria, no interior do grao, sendo necessários mais estudos para a identificaçao desses compostos e para elucidar seus mecanismos de açao.

Efeito dos feijöes (Phaseolus vulgaris, L.) preto, carioquinha e vermelho na reduçäo do colesterol sanguíneo de ratos hipercolesterolêmicos / The cholesterol-lowering effect of black, carioquinha and red beans (Phaseolus vulgaris, L.) in hypercholesterolemic rats

O presente trabalho visou investigar o possível efeito dos feijoes (Phaseolus vulgaris, L.) preto, carioquinha e vermelho, amplamente consumidos no Brasil, na reduçao do colesterol sanguíneo de ratos. Foram utilizados 5 grupos de 8 ratos, da linhagem Wistar, com peso inicial de 200g, os quais foram mantidos a 25 graus Celsius e ciclo claro-escuro de 12 horas, por 28 dias. O grupo Padrao foi alimentado com uma dieta basal de caseína. A dieta do grupo Controle foi formulada acrescentado 1 por cento do colesterol à dieta basal para produçao de hipercolesterolemia nos ratos. Os demais grupos receberam dietas semelhantes ao grupo Controle, substituída, em base seca, por 30 por cento de feijao preto (FP), vermelho (FV) ou carioquinha (FC). A adiçao de 1 por cento colesterol promoveu elevaçao de 49 por cento no colesterol sanguíneo dos ratos do grupo Controle, em relaçao ao Padrao. As dietas de feijao reduziram os níveis de colesterol sanguíneo (nao-significativo), sendo que o feijao preto reduziu em 16 por cento, o vermelho 12 por cento e o carioquinha 11 por cento, em relaçao ao grupo Controle. A adiçao de colesterol às dietas promoveu deposiçaos de lípidios no fígado dos animais, mesmo naqueles que receberam dietas de feijao. É possível que a reduçao de colesterol no sangue seja acompanhada de sua maior retençao no fígado dos ratos.