Ramon Flour (Brosimum alicastrum Swartz) Ameliorates Hepatic Lipid Accumulation, Induction of AMPK Phosphorylation, and Expression of the Hepatic Antioxidant System in a High-Fat-Diet-Induced Obesity Mouse Model.

Excessive consumption of fat and carbohydrates, together with a decrease in traditional food intake, has been related to obesity and the development of metabolic alterations. Ramon seed is a traditional Mayan food used to obtain Ramon flour (RF) with high biological value in terms of protein, fiber, micronutrients, and bioactive compounds such as polyphenols. However, few studies have evaluated the beneficial effects of RF. Thus, we aimed to determine the metabolic effects of RF consumption on a high-fat-diet-induced obesity mouse model. We divided male BALB/c mice into four groups (n = 5 each group) and fed them for 90 days with the following diets: Control (C): control diet (AIN-93), C + RF: control diet adjusted with 25% RF, HFD: high-fat diet + 5% sugar in water, and HFD + RF: high-fat diet adjusted with 25% RF + 5% sugar in water. The RF prevented the increase in serum total cholesterol (TC) and alanine transaminase (ALT) that occurred in the C and HFD groups. Notably, RF together with HFD increased serum polyphenols and antioxidant activity, and it promoted a decrease in the adipocyte size in white adipose tissue, along with lower hepatic lipid accumulation than in the HFD group. In the liver, the HFD + RF group showed an increase in the expression of ß-oxidation-related genes, and downregulation of the fatty acid synthase (Fas) gene compared with the HFD group. Moreover, the HFD + RF group had increased hepatic phosphorylation of AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK), along with increased nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (NRF2) and superoxide dismutase 2 (SOD2) protein expression compared with the HFD group. Thus, RF may be used as a nutritional strategy to decrease metabolic alterations during obesity.

Chaya Leaf Decreased Triglycerides and Improved Oxidative Stress in Subjects With Dyslipidemia.

Chaya is an edible leaf popular in Mexico and Central America because of its high nutritional value. Studies in animal models have demonstrated the beneficial effects of Chaya, which include reduction of circulating lipids and increase in antioxidant activity. However, its hypolipidemic and antioxidant effects have not been demonstrated in humans. Thus, the aim of the present study was to evaluate the effect of Chaya on the lipid profile, lipid peroxidation, inflammation, and peripheral blood mononuclear cell gene expression in a population with dyslipidemia. We performed a single-arm trial in 30 participants with dyslipidemia who consumed 500 mL of Chaya beverage per day over a 6-week period. Interestingly, we observed a significant decrease in serum triglyceride concentration (P < 0.05) and an increase in plasma antioxidant activity and polyphenol concentration (P < 0.005) after 6 weeks of Chaya consumption. This was accompanied by a reduction in the oxidative stress marker MDA (P < 0.0001) and by an increase in the antioxidant enzyme CAT expression in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (P < 0.001). Altogether, our results demonstrate that consumption of Chaya has hypotriglyceridemic and antioxidant effects in subjects with dyslipidemia.

A Cecropia peltata ethanolic extract reduces insulin resistance and hepatic steatosis in rats fed a high-fat diet.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Cecropia peltata L. (CP) leaves have been used in Latin American traditional medicine by its purported hypoglycemic, anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the metabolic effects of an ethanolic extract of CP leaves in rats fed a high-fat diet and 10% of sugar in water (HFD). METHODS: Male Wistar rats were randomly divided into four groups: group 1 was fed a control diet; groups 2, 3 and 4 were fed a HFD. In addition, group 3 was co-administered with 10 mg/kg/day of CP extract (HFD + CP) and group 4 with a solution of 5 mg/kg/day metformin (HFD + M) for 90 days. RESULTS: Body weight gain and serum triglycerides were significantly decreased in the HFD + CP group compared with the HFD and HFD + M groups. Glucose tolerance increased in the HFD + CP compared with the HFD group. Administration with CP extract reduced adipose tissue lipolysis and lipid accumulation in liver of HFD + CP rats with respect to HFD and HFD + M groups. Histological examinations showed that the area of the adipocytes in WAT and the area of lipid vesicles in BAT were significantly smaller in the HFD + CP group than in the HFD and HFD + M groups. CONCLUSION: Administration of a CP extract prevented glucose intolerance and hepatic lipid accumulation in rats fed a HFD in association with reduced adipocyte hypertrophy, demonstrating potential antidiabetic properties.

[STUDIES IN VITRO INHIBITION OF THE ANGIOTENSIN-CONVERTING ENZYME-I, HYPOTENSIVE AND ANTIHYPERTENSIVE EFFECTS OF PEPTIDE FRACTIONS OF V. UNGUICULATA]. / ESTUDIOS DE INHIBICIÓN IN VITRO DE LA ENZIMA CONVERTIDORA DE ANGIOTENSINA-I, EFECTOS HIPOTENSOR Y ANTIHIPERTENSIVO DE FRACCIONES PEPTÍDICAS DE V. UNGUICULATA.

Inhibition of angiotensin-converting enzyme I (ACE-I) in vitro and in vivo from peptide fractions by enzymatic hydrolysis of the Vigna unguiculata protein concentrate was evaluated. Hydrolysis was done with Pepsin-Pancreatin and Flavourzima in two separate systems. The resulting hidrolysates were ultrafiltrated to obtain fractions with different molecular weight. The fractions with better inhibition Flavourzima were size > 1 kDa (> 1 kDa-F) and < 1 kDa (< 1 kDa-F), with an IC50 of 1222.84 and 1098.6 µg/ml respectively. Pepsin-Pancreatin fraction.

Se evaluó la inhibición de la enzima convertidora de angiotensina-I (ECA-I) in vitro e in vivo por fracciones peptídicas provenientes de la hidrólisis enzimatica del concentrado proteico de Vigna unguiculata; el cual fue separado en distintos pesos moleculares por ultrafiltración. La hidrólisis se realizó con Flavourzima® y Pepsina- Pancreatina en dos sistemas separados. Las fracciones obtenidas con Flavourzima® con mejor inhibición fueron las de tamaño > 1KDa (> 1KDa-F) y < 1KDa (< 1KDa-F), con un IC50 de 1222,84 y 1098,6 µg/ml, respectivamente. Con Pepsina-Pancreatina la fracción < 1KDa (< 1KDa­ P-P) presentó la mejor actividad, con un IC50 de 402,23 µg/ml. El efecto hipotensor se evaluó en un modelo normotenso durante cuatro semanas, 10 mg/kg peso/vía oral en ratas Wistar. < 1KDa-F disminuyó la presión sistólica: diastólica un 8,61:14,09%, respectivamente; mientras que < 1KDa­P-P disminuyó la presión diastólica un 14,15%. El efecto antihipertensivo se evaluó en un modelo inducido durante tres semanas con L-NAME (25mg/ kg/día). Durante las siguientes cuatro semanas se administraron las fracciones peptídicas, en donde > 1KDa-F redujo la presión sitólica:diastólica un 10,27:4,92%, respectivamente; mientras que < 1KDa-F disminuyó la presión diastólica un 3,56%. < 1KDa­P-P disminuyó la presión sistólica:diastólica un 15,98:17,12%, respectivamente.

Estudios de inhibición in vitro de la enzima convertidora de angiotensina-I, efectos hipotensor y antihipertensivo de fracciones peptídicas de V. unguiculata / Studies in vitro inhibition of the angiotensin-converting enzyme-i, hypotensive and antihypertensive effects of peptide fractions of v. Unguiculata

Se evaluó la inhibición de la enzima convertidora de angiotensina-I (ECA-I) in vitro e in vivo por fracciones peptídicas provenientes de la hidrólisis enzimatica del concentrado proteico de Vigna unguiculata; el cual fue separado en distintos pesos moleculares por ultrafiltración. La hidrólisis se realizó con Flavourzima® y Pepsina-Pancreatina en dos sistemas separados. Las fracciones obtenidas con Flavourzima® con mejor inhibición fueron las de tamaño>1KDa (>1KDa-F) y<1KDa (<1KDa-F), con un IC50 de 1222,84 y 1098,6 μg/ml, respectivamente. Con Pepsina-Pancreatina la fracción<1KDa (<1KDa–P-P) presentó la mejor actividad, con un IC50 de 402,23 μg/ml. El efecto hipotensor se evaluó en un modelo normotenso durante cuatro semanas, 10 mg/kg peso/vía oral en ratas Wistar. <1KDa-F disminuyó la presión sistólica: diastólica un 8,61:14,09%, respectivamente; mientras que<1KDa–P-P disminuyó la presión diastólica un 14,15%. El efecto antihipertensivo se evaluó en un modelo inducido durante tres semanas con L-NAME (25mg/kg/día). Durante las siguientes cuatro semanas se administraron las fracciones peptídicas, en donde >1KDa-F redujo la presión sitólica: diastólica un 10,27:4,92%, respectivamente; mientras que <1KDa-F disminuyó la presión diastólica un 3,56%.<1KDa–P-P disminuyó la presión sistólica: diastólica un 15,98:17,12%, respectivamente (AU)

Inhibition of angiotensin-converting enzyme I (ACE-I) in vitro and in vivo from peptide fractions by enzymatic hydrolysis of the Vigna unguiculata protein concentrate was evaluated. Hydrolysis was done with Pepsin-Pancreatin and Flavourzima® in two separate systems. The resulting hidrolysates were ultrafiltrated to obtain fractions with different molecular weight. The fractions with better inhibition Flavourzima® were size > 1 kDa (> 1 kDa-F) and < 1 kDa (< 1 kDa-F), with an IC50 of 1222.84 and 1098.6 μg/ml respectively. Pepsin-Pancreatin fraction <1 kDa (<1 kDa-PP) showed the best activity with an IC50 of 402.23 μg/ml. Hypotensive effect was evaluated in a normotensive model for 4 weeks, 10 mg/kg (weight)/orally, in Wistar rats. < 1 kDa-F decreased systolic: diastolic in 8.61: 14.09% respectively, while in the case of <1 kDa-PP lowed diastolic pressure in 14.15%. Antihypertensive effect was evaluated in induced model for 3 weeks with L-NAME (25 mg/kg (weight)/day). In the next 4 weeks peptide fractions, were administered, noticing >1 kDa-F decreased systolic pressure and diastolic 10.27: 4.92% respectively, while <1 kDa-F decreased diastolic pressure 3.56%. <1 kDa-PP decreased systolic: diastolic in 15.98: 17.12%, respectively (AU)