Effects of "Bacuri" Seed Butter (Platonia insignis Mart.), a Brazilian Amazon Fruit, on Oxidative Stress and Diabetes Mellitus-Related Parameters in STZ-Diabetic Rats.

This study aimed to investigate the effects of oral administration of Platonia insignis Mart. ("bacuri") seed butter (BSB) on oxidative stress and diabetes mellitus-related parameters in streptozotocin-induced (STZ) diabetic rats. Diabetes mellitus was induced in female Wistar rats (180-250 g) by the intraperitoneal administration of STZ (45 mg/kg, b.w). BSB (25, 50, and 100 mg/kg) was administered to animals for four weeks. The effect on weight gain, food intake, blood glucose, glycated hemoglobin, hepatic transaminases, plasma and liver TBARS and MPO activity, erythrocyte SOD activity, non-protein sulfhydryl groups (SH-NP), and histopathology of the liver tissue was investigated. BSB at the dose of 100 mg/kg had a positive effect on the reduction in glycated hemoglobin percentage and increased albumin concentration, as well as decreased ALT and AST levels and increased SH-NP liver levels in treated animals compared to normal control rats. Moreover, BSB had no effects on weight gain, food intake, and fasting glucose. Thus, the BSB presented marked properties in improvement of hepatic antioxidant defenses, which demonstrates BSB as a potential hepatoprotective agent in metabolic disorders.

Antifungal and anti-inflammatory potential of eschweilenol C-rich fraction derived from Terminalia fagifolia Mart.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Folk knowledge transmitted between generations allows traditional populations to maintain the use of medicinal plants for the treatment of several diseases. In this context, the species Terminalia fagifolia Mart., native to Brazil, is used for the treatment of chronic and infectious diseases. Plants rich in secondary metabolites, such as this species and their derivatives, may represent therapeutic alternatives for the treatment of diseases that reduce the quality of life of people. AIM OF THE STUDY: The aim of this study was to evaluate the antifungal and anti-inflammatory potential of aqueous fraction from ethanolic extract of T. fagifolia, with in silico study of the major compound of the fraction. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The phytochemical study of the aqueous fraction was performed by HPLC, LC/MS and NMR. The antifungal activity was evaluated against yeasts, by determination of the minimum inhibitory concentration and minimum fungicidal concentration. The effect on Candida albicans was analyzed by AFM. The antibiofilm potential against biofilms of C. albicans was also tested. The anti-inflammatory potential of the aqueous fraction was evaluated in vivo by the carrageenan-induced paw edema and peritonitis. A microglial model of LPS-induced neuroinflammation was also studied. Further insights on the activation mechanism were studied using quantum chemistry computer simulations. Toxicity was evaluated in the Galleria mellonella and human erythrocytes models. RESULTS: Eschweilenol C was identified as the major constituent of the aqueous fraction of the ethanolic extract of T. fagifolia. The aqueous fraction was active against all Candida strains used (sensitive and resistant to Fluconazole) with MICs ranging from 1000 to 0.4 µg/mL. By AFM it was possible to observe morphological alterations in treated Candida cells. The fraction significantly (p < 0.05) inhibited paw edema and decreased levels of malondialdehyde induced by carrageenan. In a microglial cell model, aqueous fraction demonstrated the ability to inhibit NF-κB after induction with lipopolysaccharide. The theoretical studies showed structural similarity between eschweilenol C and indomethacin and an excellent antioxidant potential. The aqueous fraction did not present toxicity in the studied models. CONCLUSION: The results indicate that the aqueous fraction of T. fagifolia has potential for biomedical applications with low toxicity. This finding can be attributed to the predominance of eschweilenol C in the aqueous fraction.

IN VITRO AND IN VIVO ANTIOXIDANT ACTIVITY OF BURITI FRUIT (MAURITIA FLEXUOSA L.F.).

INTRODUCTION: studies have shown high concentration of monounsaturated fatty acids, carotenoids, polyphenols and ascorbic acid in Buriti fruit (Mauritia flexuosa L.f.). This study evaluated the in vitro and in vivo antioxidant activities of buriti fruit (Mauritia flexuosa L.f.). METHODS: the chemical composition and total phenolic and carotenoid contents of the buriti pulp and the feed rations were determined, and the in vitro antioxidant activity was analyzed using the 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical assay. Wistar rats (21 days old) were randomly allocated (n=10) into a control groups and experimental groups (feed enriched with buriti pulp). After 60 days, the in vivo antioxidant activity was evaluated through the determination of the catalase activity and non-protein sulfhydryl (NPSH) groups in the liver and quantification of malondialdehyde (MDA) in the plasma and tissues. RESULTS: high contents of oleic fatty acids (73.3%), phenolic compounds (192 ± 0.3 mg/100 g) and carotenoids (23.9 ± 0.5 mg/100 g) as well as elevated in vitro antioxidant activity were found in the buriti pulp. The enriched diet had higher contents of phenols and carotenoids as well as higher antioxidant activity compared with the standard feed (p < 0.05). There were no differences between the groups regarding catalase activity in the liver and MDA concentrations in the plasma, liver and kidneys. The male rats of the experimental group had higher liver concentrations of NPSH compounds (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: these results may corroborate the claim that buriti fruit is an antioxidant functional food and support its utilization in a nutritionally balanced diet.

Introducción: estudios previos han demostrado que la fruta Burití (Mauritia flexuosa L.f). posee una alta concentración de ácidos grasos monoinsaturados, carotenoides, polifenoles y ácido ascórbico. Este estudio evaluó la actividad antioxidante in vitro e in vivo del Burití. Métodos: fueron determinadas la composición química, el contenido de compuestos fenólicos y de carotenoides tanto de la pulpa del Burití como de las raciones de alimento. La actividad antioxidante in vitro fue analizada utilizando el ensayo del radical 2,2-difenil-1-picrilhidrazil (DPPH). Ratas Wistar (21 días de edad) fueron asignadas al azar (n = 10) en grupos controles y grupos experimentales (alimentación enriquecida con pulpa de Burití). Después de 60 días, la actividad antioxidante in vivo se evaluó mediante la actividad enzimática de la catalasa y grupos sulfhidrílo no proteico (NPSH) en el hígado, y se cuantificó el malondialdehído (MDA) en plasma y tejidos. Resultados: la pulpa del Burití presentó alto contenido de ácido graso oleico (73,3%), compuestos fenólicos (192 ± 0,3 mg/100 g) y carotenoides (23,9 ± 0,5 mg/100 g), así como una elevada actividad antioxidante in vitro. La dieta enriquecida tenía mayor contenido de fenoles y carotenoides, y una mayor actividad antioxidante en comparación con la alimentación estándar (p < 0,05). No se observaron diferencias entre los grupos con respecto a la actividad de la catalasa en el hígado y las concentraciones de MDA en plasma, hígado y riñones. Las ratas macho del grupo experimental tuvieron concentraciones hepáticas más altas de NPSH (p < 0,05). Conclusión: estos resultados pueden corroborar la hipótesis de que la fruta Burití es un alimento funcional antioxidante y su consumo es conveniente en una dieta nutricionalmente equilibrada.