Influence of the composition of unripe genipap (Genipa americana L.) fruit on the formation of blue pigment.

The physical and chemical characteristics of unripe genipap fruits and the proximate and amino acid compositions of the endocarp and mesocarp of the unripe fruits were determined, placing special emphasis on the possible role of the protein-amino acid fraction on the formation of the typical blue pigment of the matrix. The two parts of the fruit analyzed have low energy (49.88 kcal/100 g for mesocarp and 43.48 kcal/100 g for endocarp) and high fiber content (7.88 % for mesocarp and 16.76 % for endocarp). The endocarp showed protein content (3.19 %) five times higher than the mesocarp (0.62 %), which may explain in part the greater amounts of blue pigment formed in the endocarp when compared to the mesocarp. Furthermore, the pH found in mesocarp (4.49) and endocarp (5.21) is within the optimum range for the formation of the blue pigment. A significant color change (ΔE (*) = 26.45) was observed in endocarp during its exposure to the air for 2 h. Free aspartic and glutamic acids and cystine were the predominant amino acids in the mesocarp, while glutamic and aspartic acids and leucine were predominant in the endocarp. According to the results, the formation of blue pigment does not cause any change in the amino acid composition.

Differential response of heat shock proteins to uphill and downhill exercise in heart, skeletal muscle, lung and kidney tissues.

Running on a horizontal plane is known to increase the concentration of the stress biomarker heat-shock protein (HSP), but no comparison of the expression of HSP70 has yet been established between the uphill (predominantly concentric) and downhill (predominantly eccentric) muscle contractions exercise. The objective of the study was to investigate the relationships between eccentric and concentric contractions on the HSP70 response of the lung, kidney, gastrocnemius, soleus and heart. Twenty-four male Wistar weanling rats were divided into four groups: non-exercised and three different grades of treadmill exercise groups: horizontal, uphill (+7%) and downhill (-7% of inclination). At the optimal time-point of six hours after the exercise, serum uric acid, creatine kinase (CK) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) were determined by standard methods and HSP70 by the Western blot analysis. HSP70 responds differently to different types of running. For kidney, heart, soleus and gastrocnemius, the HSP70 expression increased, 230, 180, 150 and 120% respectively of the reference (horizontal). When the contraction was concentric (uphill) and compared to downhill the increase in response of HSP70 was greater in 80% for kidney, 75% for gastrocnemius, 60% for soleus and 280% for the heart. Uric acid was about 50% higher (0.64 ± 0.03 mg·dL(-1)) in the uphill group as compared to the horizontal or downhill groups. Similarly, the activities of serum CK and LDH were both 100% greater for both the uphill and downhill groups as compared to the horizontal group (2383 ± 253 and 647.00 ± 73 U/L, respectively). The responsiveness of HSP70 appeared to be quite different depending on the type of tissue, suggesting that the impact of exercise was not restricted to the muscles, but extended to the kidney tissue. The uphill exercise increases HSP70 beyond the eccentric type and the horizontal running was a lower HSP70 responsive stimulus. Key PointsExercise can induce increases in HSP70 in the lung, kidney and heart, and in the soleus and gastrocnemius muscles, probably due to systemic alterations such as hypoxia, increase in temperature and the production of free radicals.Predominantly concentric contractions (running uphill), seem to be the most efficient way of increasing the HSP70 concentrations in the different tissues, followed by eccentric contraction (downhill) and lastly the concentric-eccentric cycle (horizontal).The energy demand, already known to influence HSP70, appears not to be the only factor responsible for the response of these proteins, considering that for the kidney and the soleus muscle, downhill running was more efficient in raising the HSP70 response than horizontal running.Future research should explore the mechanisms by which the eccentric, concentric and eccentric-concentric contractions are capable of influencing the responses of the heat shock proteins, opening possibilities for increasing the levels of these proteins in desirable situations, such as to protect against excess free radicals or injuries.

Corrigendum to "Metabolic dysfunctions promoted by AIN-93G standard diet compared with three obesity-inducing diets in C57BL/6J mice" [Curr. Res. Physiol. (2022) 436-444].

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1016/j.crphys.2022.11.001.].

Metabolic dysfunctions promoted by AIN-93G standard diet compared with three obesity-inducing diets in C57BL/6J mice.

Researchers from different fields have studied the causes of obesity and associated comorbidities, proposing ways to prevent and treat this condition by using a common animal model of obesity to create a profound energy imbalance in young adult rodents. However, to confirm the harmful effects of consuming a high-fat and hypercaloric diet, it is common to include normolipidic and normocaloric control groups in the experimental protocols. This study compared the effect of three experimental diets described in the literature - namely, a high-fat diet, a high-fat and high-sucrose diet, and a high-fat and high-fructose diet - to induce obesity in C57BL/6 J mice with the standard AIN-93G diet as a control. We hypothesize that the AIN diet formulation is not a good control in this type of experiment because this diet promotes weight gain and metabolic dysfunctions similar to the hypercaloric diet. The metabolic data of animals fed the AIN-93G diet were similar to those of the high-calorie groups (development of steatosis and hyperlipidemia). However, it is important to emphasize that the group fed a high-fat diet had a higher percentage of total fat (p = 0.0002) and abdominal fat (p = 0.013) compared to the other groups. Also, the high-fat group responded poorly to glucose and insulin tolerance tests, showing a picture of insulin resistance. As expected, the intake of the AIN-93G diet promotes metabolic alterations in the animals like the high-fat formulations. Therefore, although this diet continues to be used as the gold standard for growth and maintenance, it warrants a reassessment of its composition to minimize the metabolic changes observed in this study, thus updating its fitness as a normocaloric model of a standard rodent diet.

Soapstone utensils may improve iron status in adult women. A preliminary study.

Soapstone is among the first heat-resistant materials to have been used by man for the manufacture of culinary utensils, but its impact on human nutrition has merited little attention. Here, we present a preliminary evaluation of the impact of soapstone pans on the iron status in humans. Five nuns (37.6 +/- 6.31 y) replaced the soapstone for their traditional aluminum cookware, without any alteration of the diet itself. Comparison of the hematological data, determined before and 10 weeks after switching the pans, revealed that hemoglobin rose from 13.26 to 14.0 mg x dL(-1) (p = 0.0048), and hematocrit increased from 38.14 to 40.71% (p = 0.0002), while the transferrin saturation index went from 28.04 to 28.96% (p = 0.0147) and ferritin, from 31.5 to 34.74 microg x gL(-1) (p = 0.0681). By simply replacing the soapstone for the traditional aluminum cookware, substantially improved the iron status in all subjects in a relatively short period of time.

Moderate intake of BCAA-rich protein improves glucose homeostasis in high-fat-fed mice.

Notwithstanding the fact that dietary branched-chain amino acids (BCAAs) have been considered to be a cause of insulin resistance (IR), evidence indicates that BCAA-rich whey proteins (WPs) do not lead to IR in animals consuming high-fat (HF) diets and may instead improve glucose homeostasis. To address the role of BCAA-rich WP as dietary protein in IR and inflammatory response, we fed C57BL/6J mice either high-fat (HF) or low-fat (LF) diets formulated with moderate protein levels (13% w/w) of either WP or hydrolyzed WP (WPH) and compared them with casein (CAS) as a reference. The muscle and plasma free amino acid profiles, inflammatory parameters and glycemic homeostasis were examined. While the LF/CAS diet promoted the rise in triglycerides and inflammatory parameters, the HF/CAS induced typical IR responses and impaired biochemical parameters. No differences in plasma BCAAs were detected, but the HF/WPH diet led to a twofold increase in gastrocnemius muscle free amino acids, including BCAAs. In general, ingestion of WPH was effective at averting or attenuating the damage caused by both the LF and HF diets. No high concentrations of BCAAs in the plasma or signs of IR were found in those mice fed an HF diet along with the hydrolyzed whey proteins. It is concluded that consumption of BCAA-rich whey proteins, especially WPH, does not result in the development of IR.

Investigation of the antioxidant and hypoglycemiant properties of Alibertia edulis (L.C. Rich.) A.C. Rich. leaves.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Alibertia edulis (L.C. Rich.) A.C. Rich is a vegetable species used in Brazilian folk medicine due to it is putative hypoglycemiant effect but has never been pharmacologically investigated. It is popularly used for the control of diabetes, especially in the state of Mato Grosso, Brazil. Following confirmation of the antioxidant activity of A. edulis by Aquino et al. (2017), the aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of leaves of A. edulis aqueous extract (AEAE) on some biochemical parameters in mice fed a high-fat fed. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Leaves of A. edulis were air-dried in an oven at 40 °C for 10 days and ground into a fine powder by mechanical milling. The AEAE was prepared by decoction (1:10 w/v) at 97 °C for 15 min, and later filtered and lyophilized. Preliminary phytochemical analysis of the AEAE has been already indetified the presence of caffeic acid, quercetin 3-rhamnosyl-(1 â†’ 6)-galactoside and iridois ioxide, ferulic acid and rutin in decocted leaves (Aquino et al., 2017). In one experiment, the acute oral toxicity AEAE was evaluated at 2,000 mg/kg of body weight. The animals were observed periodically for 14 days. In second experiment, the animals were divided into four groups (n = 5): Control, AEAE 200, AEAE 400 mg/kg and positive control (Metformin 100 mg/kg). In a third experiment, animals were divided into: Control RC (standard diet) (n = 24) and Control HFF (high-fat fed) (n = 24) groups for induction of glucose intolerance. After eight weeks, they were further subdivided into six groups (n = 8 each) RC or HFF with or without AEAE at doses of 200 and 400 mg/kg (2-wk) treatments to assess glucose tolerance. Plasma indicators of glucose tolerance and liver damage, skeletal muscle expression of antioxidant enzymes, and expression of the antioxidant proteins of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase, glutathione peroxidase (GPx) and phosphorylated IKK were determined. RESULTS: The HF-fed animals developed glucose intolerance which the AEAE failed to revert. Meanwhile, the AEAE treatment did lower the glucose levels in the normolipidic cohorts by virtue of its antioxidant property. It was also observed that the treatment with the AEAE reduced food intake negatively interfering weight accretion. Beyond that, the treatment with AEAE interfered in the SOD and catalase expression and inhibited phosphorylation of IKK thus suggesting that the observed hypoglycemiant power may be related to its known antioxidant potential. No sings of toxicity or hemolysis were detectaed at indicating that, at the concentrations evaluated, the extract was not toxic to normal cells. CONCLUSION: The AEAE showed a hypoglycemiant effect in the normolipidic mice that received the control diet, but not in those that were made glucose-intolerant by consuming a high-fat fed. The extract also exhibited substantial protection against hemolysis and oxidative stress. Moreover, no signs of toxicity were evident at 2000 mg/kg of body weight.

Comparing the impact of chronic energy restriction and vitamin E supplementation on the behavior of adult rats.

The purpose of this work was to investigate the influence of energy restriction and vitamin E supplementation on memory, learning, anxiety and spontaneous locomotion in adult rats. Three-month-old male Wistar rats were grouped according to diet: Control (AIN 93-M; n=18), Supplemented (AIN 93-M + 1425 IU all-rac-alpha-tocopheryl acetate/kg diet; n=22) and Restricted (AIN 93-M with 30% reduction in carbohydrate energy; n=23). Sixteen weeks after, the passive avoidance (PA), elevated plus-maze (EPM) and open field (OF) tests were applied. In the EPM test, the behavioral profile of the supplemented group was characterized by a lower frequency of entries into the open arms (P < 0,026), whereas the restricted group showed a lower frequency of head dipping (P < 0,003). The ratio between the time span of the shocks and the number of attempts were larger for the supplemented than for the non-supplemented animals (P = 0,0474), thus suggesting a delay in learning in the PA test. Taken together, these results suggest that a long-term combination of carbohydrate energy restriction in rats should not cause negative behavioral alterations. Compared with vitamin E supplementation, the restricted diet performed equally or better in rats as an alternate antioxidant diet.

Novel process of hydration, followed by incubation and thermal processing, for high isoflavone bioconversion in soybeans.

The potentially bioavailable aglyconic isoflavone content of soybeans was increased by a process based on the controlled hydration of whole beans, followed by an incubation step and cooking. For developing the process, the effects of three operation variables: temperature, intermittent soaking and incubation time on the isoflavone profile of the processed soybeans were assessed. By hydrating the whole beans under controlled conditions (54 °C; 15 rpm for a rotating soaking basket) and holding the beans for an appropriate incubation time, it was possible to substantially increase the total aglycone content from (µmol·10-2·g-1) ~5 in the raw, to ~95 in the processed soybean. A conventional thermal treatment (1 kg⋅cm-2, 5 min), necessary to attain the nutritional and sensory characteristics, produced additional hydrolysis of glucosides, accounting for extra 14% of total aglycone yield. The entire process avoided the need to grind the bean and permitted an overall 21.8-fold increase (per-mole basis) conversion of all forms of isoflavone glucosides to aglycones, particularly to the (S)-equol precursor, daidzein, and with minimal back-diffusion or leaching to the outside medium.

The Expression of and Preoperative Correlation between Heat-Shock Protein 70, EuroSCORE, and Lactate in Patients undergoing CABG with Cardiopulmonary Bypass.

OBJETIVE: Coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) with cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) improved symptoms and increased survival and quality of life in patients with coronary artery disease. However, it should be the main cause of a complex organic systemic inflammatory response that greatly contributes to several postoperative adverse effects. METHODS: We aimed to evaluate heat-shock protein 70 (HSP 70) expression as a morbimortality predictor in patients with preserved ventricular function undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) with cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) and to determine their association with the lactate as a marker of tissue hypoperfusion and the EuroSCORE risk score. This is a prospective, observational study including 46 patients and occurring between May and July 2016. Patients without ventricular dysfunction undergoing myocardial revascularization with extracorporeal circulation were included. They were divided into (1) complicated and (2) uncomplicated postoperative evolution groups. EuroSCORE, lactate levels, and HSP 70 expression and their correlations were determined. RESULTS: Statistical analysis showed that the group with complicated evolution had higher EuroSCORE values than the other group. HSP 70 protein levels were significantly increased in the group with uncomplicated evolution and showed similar results. According to our results, HSP family proteins may be independent predictors of uncomplicated evolution in patients without ventricular dysfunction undergoing CABG with CPB. CONCLUSION: HSP 70 should be a good discriminator and protection marker for complications in cardiac surgery.

The Step of Incorporation of Bacillus coagulans GBI-30 6086 Into "requeijão cremoso" Processed Cheese Does Not Affect Metabolic Homeostasis of Rats.

Dairy product consumption is a common habit in Brazil. These products present a good matrix for probiotic incorporation. Thus, in this study the feasibility of producing a probiotic "requeijão cremoso" incorporated with Bacillus coagulans GBI-30 6086 in three different steps and its metabolic effect in an animal model for 2 weeks has been evaluated. Wistar adult health rats were randomized into one to five groups (n = 8 for each group): Control (C); "requeijão cremoso" without probiotic (RC); probiotic inoculated in the milk before pasteurization at 65°C/30 min (RPP); "requeijão cremoso" inoculated before the fusion step and consequently exposed to 90°C/5 min (RPF); and "requeijão cremoso" inoculated after fusion step, i.e., once the product temperature reached 50°C (RPAF). At the end of treatment, analysis of molecular markers of proteins of stress and antioxidant system, HSP 25, 60, 70 and 90, SOD and catalase were performed in the animals' muscles by Western Blot technique. The HSP25, HSP90 and catalase levels of C, RPP, RPF, and RPAF were similar, indicating that the homeostasis remained unchanged. The incorporation of B. coagulans GBI-30 6086 in the "requeijão cremoso" was shown to be stable and the microorganism remained viable in all steps tested. The incorporation of the probiotic strain in the fusion stage facilitated the technological process, since it allowed a better homogenization of the product and did not affect the maintenance of the metabolic homeostasis of rats.

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis: combined nutritional, respiratory and functional assessment.

OBJECTIVE: To establish correlations between nutritional, functional and respiratory indices of patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). METHOD: Twenty patients (13 appendicular-GA and 7 bulbar-GB) were included in the multidisciplinary study at the Neurological Clinic Ambulatory of the University of Campinas Hospital. RESULTS: Among the GA type significant correlation was observed between maximal inspiratory (MIP) and expiratory (MEP) pressure (r=-0.76), MEP and pulse oxymetry (r=0.58), MIP and percent weight loss (%WL; r=0.59), and between MIP, total and subscale respiratory scores (ALSFRS-R) with %WL. With regard to the GB, correlation was found between MEP and body mass index (BMI) (r=0.97). In both GA and GB correlations were noticed between the BMI and the variables mass (kg), fat (%), arm and wrist circumference (cm), and tricipital, subscapular and supra-iliac skinfolds (mm), as well as the arm muscle circumference (cm) and fatty arm muscular area (mm2). CONCLUSION: It is suggested that the application of simple anthropometric measurements could be useful in routine monitoring of patients with ALS.

Dietary Nutrients and Bioactive Substances Modulate Heat Shock Protein (HSP) Expression: A Review.

Interest in the heat shock proteins (HSPs), as a natural physiological toolkit of living organisms, has ranged from their chaperone function in nascent proteins to the remedial role following cell stress. As part of the defence system, HSPs guarantee cell tolerance against a variety of stressors, including exercise, oxidative stress, hyper and hypothermia, hyper and hypoxia and improper diets. For the past couple of decades, research on functional foods has revealed a number of substances likely to trigger cell protection through mechanisms that involve the induction of HSP expression. This review will summarize the occurrence of the most easily inducible HSPs and describe the effects of dietary proteins, peptides, amino acids, probiotics, high-fat diets and other food-derived substances reported to induce HSP response in animals and humans studies. Future research may clarify the mechanisms and explore the usefulness of this natural alternative of defense and the modulating mechanism of each substance.

Heat Shock Proteins: Protection and Potential Biomarkers for Ischemic Injury of Cardiomyocytes After Surgery.

The heat shock proteins are endogenous proteins with the ability to act as molecular chaperones. Methods that provide cell protection by way of some damage can positively influence the results of surgery. The present review summarizes current knowledge concerning the cardioprotective role of the heat shock proteins as occurs in heart damage, including relevant information about the stresses that regulate the expression of these proteins and their potential role as biomarkers of heart disease.

Impact of Trans-Fats on Heat-Shock Protein Expression and the Gut Microbiota Profile of Mice.

Partially hydrogenated oils are known to cause metabolic stress and dyslipidemia. This paper explores a new dimension about the interaction between dietary trans-fats and the defense heat-shock protein (HSP) system, inflammation, and the gut microbiota of mice consuming a hyperlipidic diet containing partially hydrogenated vegetable oil free of animal fat. Five diet groups were installed: control diet, 2 hyperlipidic-partially hydrogenated-oil diets, each containing either casein or whey-protein hydrolysate (WPH) as protein source, and 2 consuming hyperlipidic-unhydrogenated-oil diets containing either WPH or casein as a protein source. The partially hydrogenated oil inhibited c-Jun NH2 -terminal kinase phosphorylation in the casein diets, but without altering κ-B kinase. Neither the lipid nor the protein had an influence on the proinflammatory toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) pathway, but the combination of the high-lipid content and WPH impaired glucose tolerance without altering insulin or glucose transporter-4 translocation. It was remarkable to observe that, contrary to the case of a common high-fat diet, the lard-free hyperlipidic diets were hardly able to invert the Bacteroidetes:Firmicutes phylum ratio. Our results suggest that, in the absence of lard, the intake of trans-fatty acids is less harmful than expected because it does not trigger TLR4-inflammation or pose great threat to the normal gut microbiota. WPH had the effect of promoting the expression of HSP90, HSP60, and HSP25, but did not prevent dysbiosis, when the diet contained the unhydrogenated oil. The partially hydrogenated oil also seemed to antagonize the ability of WPH to induce the expression of protective HSPs.

Intake of Polydextrose Alters Hematology and the Profile of Short Chain Fatty Acids in Partially Gastrectomized Rats.

Polydextrose (PDX) ingestion may increase the intestinal absorption of iron. This study evaluated the effects of 7.5% polydextrose supplementation on markers of iron uptake, transport and storage in partially gastrectomized rats. Half of a batch of 40 male Wistar rats (250 g) underwent Billroth II partial gastrectomy with anterior truncal vagotomy (GXT), while the other half underwent sham gastrectomy (SHAM). At 7 postoperative days, the animals were subdivided into four groups (n = 10): Sham Control and GXT Control (no polydextrose); Sham PDX and GXT PDX (with 7.5% PDX). The animals were euthanized after 60 day of PDX treatment. Organ weight, cecal pH, the characterization and quantification of short-chain fatty acids (SCFA), hematological parameters, hepatic iron content and the expression of ferroportin (FPT) in the jejunum, cecum, colon and liver were evaluated. PDX caused changes in the cecum of the supplemented animals, where there was a decrease in pH, increase in cecal wall and marked production of SCFA, especially acetic and propionic acids (p < 0.05). Hepatic iron levels were lower in GXT animals. PDX increased hemoglobin (HGB) values by 29.2% and hematocrit (HCT) by 55.8% in the GXT PDX group compared to the GXT Control group. The GXT PDX group had lower hepatic FPT expression (p < 0.05). PDX led to increased SCFA concentration in the supplemented animals. Considering that SCFAs play a central role in the increasing nutrients uptake, this mechanism may be involved in altering the hematology profile observed in these animals but not enough to reverse iron deficiency anemia in post-gastrectomy rats.

Simultaneous determination of streptomycin and oxytetracycline in agricultural antimicrobials by CZE after an experimental design.

A capillary zone electrophoresis (CZE) method was developed and validated for the simultaneous determination of both streptomycin (STP) and oxytetracycline (OTC) in bactericidal products to be used in agriculture. Using fused-silica capillaries, the influence of the electrolyte composition, pH and concentration, as well as temperature and applied voltage were investigated using a central composite design to optimize the method. The optimized electrophoretic conditions were as follows: 0.10 M sodium phosphate, pH 2.5, 7.0 kV and 20.0 degrees C. The method was validated for STP and OTC determination in agricultural formulations through the following performance criteria: linearity and linear range, sensitivity, selectivity, intra-day and inter-day precision, detectability, accuracy and ruggedness. This optimized CZE-method for the identification and quantification of STP and OTC is a potential alternative method to the HPLC methods described by the US Pharmacopeia, with the advantage that the same method could be used for the simultaneous determination of these different antibiotics.

Bioactivity of food peptides: biological response of rats to bovine milk whey peptides following acute exercise.

Background: Several physiologically beneficial effects of consuming a whey protein hydrolysate (WPH) have been attributed to the greater availability of bioactive peptides. Aims: The aim was to investigate the effect of four branched-chain amino acid- (BCAA-)containing dipeptides, present in WPH, on immune modulation, stimulation of HSP expression, muscle protein synthesis, glycogen content, satiety signals and the impact of these peptides on the plasma free amino acid profiles. Methods: The animals were divided in groups: control (rest, without gavage), vehicle (water), L-isoleucyl-L-leucine (lle-Leu), L-leucyl-L-isoleucine (Leu-lle), L-valyl-Lleucine (Val-Leu), L-leucyl-L-valine (Leu-Val) and WPH. All animals were submitted to acute exercise, except for control. Results: lle-Leu stimulated immune response, hepatic and muscle glycogen and HSP60 expression, whereas Leu-Val enhanced HSP90 expression. All dipeptides reduced glucagon-like peptide-1 and glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide, no changes were observed on leptin. All peptides inhibited NF-kB expression. The plasma amino acid time-course showed peptide-specific and isomer-specific metabolic features, including increases of the BCAAs. Conclusion: The data indicate that lle-Leu was effective to attenuate immune-suppression exercise-induced, promoted glycogen content and stimulated anti-stress effect (HSP). Furthermore, Leu-Val increased HSP90, p-4EBP1, p-mTOR and p-AMPK expression. The data suggest the involvement of these peptides in various beneficial functions of WPH consumption.

Modulatory effects of arginine, glutamine and branched-chain amino acids on heat shock proteins, immunity and antioxidant response in exercised rats.

Heat shock proteins (HSPs) are endogenous proteins whose function is to maintain the cell's tolerance to insult, and glutamine supplementation is known to increase HSP expression during intense exercise. Since few studies have addressed the possibility that supplementation with other amino acids could have similar effects to that of glutamine, our objective was to evaluate the effects of leucine, valine, isoleucine and arginine as potential stimulators of HSPs 25, 60, 70 and 90 in rats subjected to acute exercise as a stressing factor. The immune markers, antioxidant system, blood parameters, glycogen and amino acid profile responses were also assessed. Male Wistar rats were divided into seven groups: control (rest, without gavage), vehicle (water), l-leucine, l-isoleucine, l-valine, l-arginine and l-glutamine. Except for the control, all animals were exercised and received every amino acid by oral gavage. Arginine supplementation up-regulated muscle HSP70 and HSP90 and serum HSP70, however, none of the amino acids affected the HSP25. All amino acids increased exercise-induced HSP60 expression, except for valine. Antioxidant enzymes were reduced by exercise, but both glutamine and arginine restored glutathione peroxidase, while isoleucine and valine restored superoxide dismutase. Exercise reduced monocyte, platelet, lymphocyte and erythrocyte levels, while leucine stimulated immune response, preserved the levels of the lymphocytes and increased leukocytes and maintained platelets at control levels. Plasma and muscle amino acid profiles showed specific metabolic features. The data suggest that the tissue-protecting effects of arginine could proceed by enhancing specific HSPs in the body.

Biotransformed citrus extract as a source of anti-inflammatory polyphenols: Effects in macrophages and adipocytes.

Chronic non-communicable diseases such as obesity are preceded by increased macrophage infiltration in adipose tissue and greater secretion of pro-inflammatory cytokines. We evaluated the anti-inflammatory potential of Biotransformed extract, and two control extracts: In Natura and Autoclaved. The assays were performed using a cellular model with RAW264.7, 3T3-L1 cells, and RAW264.7 and 3T3-L1 co-culture. The innovation of the study was the use of Biotransformed extract, a unique phenolic extract of a bioprocessed citrus residue. LPS stimulated RAW264.7 cells treated with the Biotransformed extract exhibited lower secretion of TNF-α and NO and lower protein expression of NFκB. In RAW264.7 and 3T3-L1 co-culture, treatment with 1.0mg/mL of the Biotransformed extract reduced secretion of TNF-α (30.7%) and IL-6 (43.4%). Still, the Biotransformed extract caused higher increase in adiponectin in relation to control extracts. When the co-culture received a LPS stimulus, the Autoclaved extract at 1.0mg/mL reduced IL-6 and TNF-α concentrations, and raised adiponectin. However, it was noteworthy that the Biotransformed extract was also able to significantly reduce IL-6 concentration while the Natural extract was not. The Biotransformed citrus extract evaluated in this study showed anti-inflammatory activity in macrophages and in co-culture, indicating that bioprocess of citrus residue can contribute to new product development with anti-inflammatory potential.