Passion fruit peel intake decreases inflammatory response and reverts lipid peroxidation and adiposity in diet-induced obese rats.

This study investigated Passiflora edulis peel flour (PEPF) intake and its effect against high-fat diet-induced obesity. PEPF is a source of fiber and phenolic compounds, which can decrease oxidative stress and inflammatory cytokines, both linked to chronic inflammatory response and fat deposition in obesity. Therefore, we hypothesized that PEPF intake could decrease inflammatory cytokines and oxidative stress observed in obesity, leading to decrease of fatness and chronic inflammatory response. The aims of the study were to evaluate the lipid peroxidation, the expression of antioxidants enzymes, and inflammatory parameters in obese rats. Male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into 3 groups (n = 8 per group) according to the diets: control (based on AIN-93G), high-fat (HF, 35% fat w/w), and HF with PEPF (HFPF), and the experiment lasted for 10 weeks. PEPF showed high dietary fiber content and bioactive compounds, such as ferulic acid, and ß-carotene. PEPF intake was effective in reducing body weight gain (13.31%) and total body fat (22.58%). The lipid peroxidation in the liver and adipose tissue decreased in the HFPF group compared to HF-fed animals, whereas hepatic glutathione peroxidase and glutathione reductase activity and their expressions in the liver were higher in HFPF than HF. In addition, the PEPF intake decreased inflammatory cytokines in serum. These results suggest that PEPF intake decreases oxidative stress, possibly by the increase of antioxidant enzymes expression. Furthermore, PEPF decreases inflammatory response and protects from adiposity. Then, PEPF could act as an adjuvant to control of early parameters in obesity dysfunction.

Characterization of phenolic compounds in chia (Salvia hispanica L.) seeds, fiber flour and oil.

The consumption of chia seeds products has increased recently and it has been suggested that the inclusion of this functional food in a daily human diet could contribute to improve consumers' health. However, a better knowledge about the composition of these products is mandatory. In this work, the phenolic compounds from commercial samples of chia seed, fiber flour and oil were extracted using an ultrasound-assisted methodology and were separated and identified by high-performance liquid chromatography coupled to a mass spectrometer. Methanol:water extracts were prepared and submitted to an acidic hydrolysis. Crude and hydrolyzed extracts were analyzed and phenolic compounds found were mainly caffeic acid and danshensu and its derivatives, such as rosmarinic and salvianolic acids. TPC was higher in the hydrolyzed extracts. These results supply new information about the main phenolic compounds presents in chia, which are important dietary sources of natural antioxidants for prevention of diseases caused by oxidative stress.

Aqueous leaf extract of Passiflora alata Curtis promotes antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects and consequently preservation of NOD mice beta cells (non-obese diabetic).

Passiflora alata Curtis (P. alata) leaves have anti-inflammatory properties; the present study aimed to investigate the anti-diabetogenic properties of P. alata aqueous leaf extract. HPLC analysis identified the phenolic compounds catechin, epicatechin and rutin. The aqueous extract was administered for 30weeks to non-obese diabetic (NOD) mice presenting a decrease of 28.6% in diabetes incidence and the number of inflammatory cells in pancreatic islets, when compared with the control group (water). The P. alata group presented an antioxidant effect and decreased lipid peroxidation in the serum of NOD mice. Increased numbers of insulin-positive cells were also observed in the pancreatic islets of the treated group. The diabetic group exhibited higher levels in the glucose tolerance test and glycemic index, in comparison to the P. alata-treated group and non-diabetic control BALB/c mice. In addition, the P. alata extract reduced the percentage and the proliferation index of NOD mice lymphocytes submitted to in vitro dose/response mitogenic stimulation assays. These results suggest that the aqueous extract of P. alata has anti-inflammatory properties, contributing to the protection of beta cells in pancreatic islets in NOD mice, and presents potential for use a supporting approach to treat type 1 diabetes.

Polyphenols, antioxidants, and antimutagenic effects of Copaifera langsdorffii fruit.

Copaifera langsdorffii (copaiba) is a Brazilian exotic fruit, poorly studied regarding its bioactive composition. The aim of this study was to determine bioactive compounds, antioxidant and antimutagenic activities of copaiba pulp. The samples were extracted with different solvents in order to analyze polyphenol compounds (Folin Ciocalteau and HPLC-DAD), total flavonoids (reaction with AlCl3) and antioxidant capacity (FRAP, ORAC, DPPH). The copaiba fruit showed high polyphenol content and antioxidant capacity. Phenolic compounds, such as gallic acid, epicatechin gallate, catechin, epicatechin and isoquercitrin, were identified in the copaiba pulp. Despite the antioxidant capacity, the highest dose of copaiba showed no antimutagenic effects in the in vivo study. The dose which showed antimutagenic activity was 100 mg kg(-1).

Identification and Antioxidant Activity of the Extracts of Eugenia uniflora Leaves. Characterization of the Anti-Inflammatory Properties of Aqueous Extract on Diabetes Expression in an Experimental Model of Spontaneous Type 1 Diabetes (NOD Mice).

Medical and folklore reports suggest that Eugenia uniflora (E. uniflora) is a functional food that contains numerous compounds in its composition, with anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and anti-diabetic effects. In the present study, we investigated the best solvents (water, ethanol and methanol/acetone) for extracting bioactive compounds of E. uniflora leaves, assessing total phenols and the antioxidant activity of the extracts by 2,2-Diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), Ferric Reducing Antioxidant Power (FRAP), 2,2'-Azinobis (3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS) and Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity (ORAC) assays, identifying hydrolysable tannins and three phenolic compounds (ellagic acid, gallic acid and rutin) present in the leaves. In addition, we evaluated the incidence of diabetes, degree of insulitis, serum insulin, hepatic glutathione and tolerance test glucose in non-obese diabetic (NOD) mice. Our results suggest that the aqueous extract presents antioxidant activity and high total phenols, which were used as a type 1 diabetes mellitus (DM-1) treatment in NOD mice. We verified that the chronic consumption of aqueous extract reduces the inflammatory infiltrate index in pancreatic islets, maintaining serum insulin levels and hepatic glutathione, and reducing serum lipid peroxidation as well as the risk for diabetes.

Avaliação da rotulagem de alguns vinhos brasileiros / Evaluation of the quality of labels on some of the Brazilian wines samples

As informações contidas no rótulo são essenciais para a escolha do produto pelo consumidor. Neste trabalho, foi avaliada a rotulagem de 39 vinhos nacionais quanto à conformidade com as legislações vigentes. Nesta análise, foram considerados os seguintes dizeres: nome do produtor/elaborador, endereço do estabelecimento, número de registro no Ministério da Agricultura, nome do produto e marca comercial, a expressão “indústria brasileira”, o conteúdo líquido, os aditivos empregados, a graduação alcoólica, a descrição dos ingredientes, a identificação do lote, o prazo de validade, a frase de advertência “evite o consumo excessivo de álcool” e a declaração de presença ou não de glúten. Em relação à legislação específica para vinhos, todas as amostras estavam em conformidade. No entanto, ao considerar a legislação para bebidas em geral, 28% das amostras foram não conformes pela falta de identificação do lote ou por estar ilegível. Quanto à declaração de conter glúten ou não, 2,5% dos produtos estavam em desacordo. Neste contexto, pode-se inferir que há necessidade de harmonizar os descritivos nos rótulos com as informações obrigatórias exigidas pelas legislações existentes, a fim de melhorar o esclarecimento ao consumidor e ocontrole por meio de rastreamento.

Extraction optimization for antioxidant phenolic compounds in red grape jam using ultrasound with a response surface methodology.

Optimization of the extraction methodology for antioxidant phenolic compounds in red grape jam was performed with an ultrasound-assisted system. The antioxidant phenolic compounds were extracted and analyzed by determining the total phenolic content (Folin Ciocalteu), as well as by employing free radical DPPH() and the beta-carotene/linoleic acid system. To optimize the parameters of solvent concentration, time and extraction temperature, the experiments were carried out using the central composite rotatable design (CCRD) method. Using response surface methodology (RSM), the best combinations achieved were with 60% ethanol and water for 20min at 50°C. The optimized parameters for this method were compared to an extraction method that has been commonly noted in the literature, which used to be the standard method, and the results were expressed in the milligram equivalent of quercetin per gram of jam (mg E.Q/g Jam). With the new method, the antioxidant potential measured by DPPH(ⁱ) was 70% higher than that obtained with the standard extraction method, and the antioxidant potential measured using the beta-carotene/linoleic acid system was 65% higher. In addition, a significant decrease in the total analysis time was achieved (from 10h to 30min), when compared to the standard method.