Chemical composition, minerals concentration, total phenolic compounds, flavonoids content and antioxidant capacity in organic and conventional vegetables.

The demand for organic vegetables is increasing worldwide, which has led to the growth of organic agriculture. However, information on chemical composition and antioxidant activity in vegetables grown organically under controlled conditions remains uncertain. For this study, 3 vegetables widely consumed in Brazil were cultivated in controlled organic and conventional cultivation systems: lettuce, coriander and tomato. Their chemical composition, mineral concentration, phenolic compound content, flavonoids and antioxidant activity (AA) were evaluated. The analyses of chemical and mineral composition revealed differences between the cultivation systems. Organic lettuce presented higher content of ashes, calcium and potassium. A higher content of phenolic compounds and flavonoids was observed in most organic vegetables. Using the 2,2'-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) assay, the organic tomato exhibited higher AA compared to conventional, while the ferric-reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) method showed higher AA for organic coriander and tomato than theirs conventional version. The correlation between bioactive compounds and AA was positive, higher and stronger for organic vegetables, considering phenolic compounds (including flavonoids) and DPPH or FRAP antioxidant activity. Principal Component Analysis (PCA) disclosed that organic lettuce and coriander were grouped according bioactive components. In general, organic vegetables showed better results for bioactive compounds and antioxidant activity.

Correction: Macauba (Acrocomia aculeata) kernel has good protein quality and improves the lipid profile and short chain fatty acids content in Wistar rats.

Correction for 'Macauba (Acrocomia aculeata) kernel has good protein quality and improves the lipid profile and short chain fatty acids content in Wistar rats' by Fátima Ladeira Mendes Duarte et al., Food Funct., 2022, 13, 11342-11352, https://doi.org/10.1039/D2FO02047E.

Sorghum flour BRS 305 hybrid has the potential to modulate the intestinal microbiota of rats fed with a high-fat high-fructose diet.

AIM: The present study aimed to investigate the effect of dry heated whole sorghum BRS 305 hybrid flour on the gut microbiota modulation and gut health of rats fed with a high-fat high-fructose diet (HFHF). METHODS: In phase I (8 weeks), 45-50 days, male Wistar rats, were separated into the AIN93-M group (n = 10; fed with normal diet) and HFHF group (n = 20; fed with diet rich in saturated and simple carbohydrate). In phase II (10 weeks), we maintained the AIN-93-M group, and the HFHF group was divided into the HFHF group (n = 10) and HFHF plus sorghum flour group (n = 10). RESULTS: The consumption of sorghum flour increased the circular muscle layer and propionic acid when compared to the HFHF group. The sequencing of the 16S rRNA gene of the cecal microbiota presented no changes in the α-diversity and ß-diversity between. However, the sorghum group exhibited higher relative abundance of Firmicutes and higher Firmicutes/Bacteroidetes ratio compared to the other experimental groups, and lower abundance of Bacteroidetes, compared to the HFHF group. Despite, sorghum increased the abundance of the genera Roseburia and Lachnospiraceae_NK4A136_group compared to the HFHF group. No differences were observed in total goblet cell number, crypt thickness and height, circular muscle layer, secretory IgA, and butyric acid between all groups. CONCLUSIONS: The consumption of sorghum flour can modulate the gut microbiota composition, abundance of SCFA-producing bacteria, and intestinal morphology even with consumption of an HFHF diet.

Germinated Millet (Pennisetum glaucum (L.) R. Br.) Flour Improved the Gut Function and Its Microbiota Composition in Rats Fed with High-Fat High-Fructose Diet.

Germinated millet (Pennisetum glaucum (L.) R. Br.) is a source of phenolic compounds that has potential prebiotic action. This study aims at evaluating the action of germinated pearl millet on gut function and its microbiota composition in Wistar rats fed with a high-fat high-fructose (HFHF) diet. In the first stage, lasting eight weeks, the experiment consisted of two groups: AIN-93M (n = 10) and HFHF group (n = 20). In the second stage, which lasted ten weeks, the animals of the AIN-93M group (n = 10) were kept, while the HFHF group was dismembered into HFHF (HFHF diet, n = 10) and HFHF + millet (HFHF added 28.6% of germinated millet flour, n = 10) groups. After the 18th week, the urine of the animals was collected for the analysis of lactulose and mannitol intestinal permeability by urinary excretion. The histomorphometry was analyzed on the proximal colon and the fecal pH, concentration of short-chain fatty acids (SCFA), and sequencing of microbiota were performed in cecum content. The Mothur v.1.44.3 software was used for data analysis of sequencing. Alpha diversity was estimated by Chao1, Shannon, and Simpson indexes. Beta diversity was assessed by PCoA (Principal Coordinate Analysis). The functional predictive analysis was performed with PICRUSt2 software (version 2.1.2-b). Functional traits attributed to normalized OTU abundance were determined by the Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG). In the results, germinated millet flour reduced Oscillibacter genus and Desulfobacterota phylum, while increasing the Eggerthellaceae family. Furthermore, germinated millet flour: increased beta diversity, cecum weight, and cecum/body weight ratio; improved gut histological parameters by increasing the depth and thickness of the crypt and the goblet cell count (p < 0.05); reduced (p < 0.05) the fecal pH and mannitol urinary excretion; increased (p < 0.05) the propionate short-chain fatty acid concentration. Thus, germinated millet has the potential to improve the composition of gut microbiota and the intestinal function of rats fed with an HFHF diet.

Macauba (Acrocomia aculeata) kernel has good protein quality and improves the lipid profile and short chain fatty acids content in Wistar rats.

Macauba (Acrocomia aculeata) has aroused interest in the food industry due to the high nutritional value of its fruits. This study aimed to evaluate the protein quality and influence on biochemical markers, short chain fatty acids content, intestinal morphology, and intestinal functionality in Wistar rats of macauba kernel. Male young rats were divided into three groups (n = 8) that received a control diet (casein), and two test diets (M30: 30% semi-defatted macauba kernel flour or M50: 50% semi-defatted macauba kernel flour) for 29 days. Protein Efficiency Ratio (PER), Net Protein Ratio (NPR), True Digestibility (TD), biochemical, and intestinal morphology and functionality markers were evaluated. The PER and NPR values were lower in test groups compared to the control group. TD did not differ between M30 and M50. The animals that were fed the macauba kernel flour had lower concentrations of total cholesterol and triglycerides compared to the control group. The concentration of acetic and propionic acids was higher and the fecal pH was lower in M30 and M50 groups compared to the control group. Gene expression of aminopeptidase (AP) and sodium-glucose transport protein 1 (SGLT1) did not differ among the groups, and the M50 group had lower expression of peptide transporter 1 (PepT1) and sucrase isomaltase (SI) than the control group. Crypts thickness was higher in the M50 group compared to the other groups, while the intestinal muscle layer width did not differ among groups. Therefore, macauba kernel flour proved to be a good plant protein alternative, and its consumption reduced blood lipids and increased short chain fatty acids content.

Chia (Salvia hispanica L.) Flour and Oil Ameliorate Metabolic Disorders in the Liver of Rats Fed a High-Fat and High Fructose Diet.

We hypothesized that the consumption of chia (Salvia hispanica L.) flour (CF) and chia oil (CO) improves metabolic disorders in the liver of Wistar rats (Rattus norvegicus domestica) fed a high-fat and high-fructose (HFHF) diet. The animals were fed a HFHF diet (n = 30) or AIN93-M standard diet (n = 10) for eight weeks. After this period, the animals fed HFHF were divided into three groups (n = 10): HFHF diet, HFHF plus 14.7% of CF, and HFHF plus 4% of CO. Histological and biochemical analyses, gene expression, protein levels related to inflammation, and oxidative stress were evaluated in the liver. The HFHF diet caused lipogenesis, liver steatosis, oxidative stress, and inflammation in the animals. The CF and CO intake increased the liver total antioxidant capacity and superoxide dismutase, decreased nitric oxide levels and liver steatosis. Furthermore, the CF and CO led to the upregulation of Cpt1a and Adipor2, respectively, whereas CF downregulated Srebf1. CO intake decreased blood glucose, triglycerides, and the animals' body weight. Chia did not show effects on mitigating liver pro-inflammatory status, which it may indicate occurs later. The addition of chia into an unbalanced diet is a good and relevant strategy to reduce liver metabolic disorders caused by the high consumption of fructose and saturated fat.