Lycium barbarum Reduces Abdominal Fat and Improves Lipid Profile and Antioxidant Status in Patients with Metabolic Syndrome.

Natural antioxidants present in fruits have attracted considerable interest due to their presumed safety and potential nutritional value. Even though antioxidant activities of many fruits have been reported, the effects of phytochemicals of goji berry (GB) in patients with metabolic syndrome have not been investigated. In this study, we examined anthropometric and biochemical parameters in patients with metabolic syndrome after the consumption of GB. The patients were divided into two groups, control (C) and supplemented (S), and followed up for 45 days. Participants were individually instructed to carry out a healthy diet, but additionally, an inclusion of 14 g of the natural form of goji berry in the diet during 45 days for the S group was proposed. After 45 days of study, a significant reduction in transaminases as well as an improvement in lipid profile in the S group was observed. Likewise, a significant reduction in the waist circumference of the S group was observed when compared with that of the C group, and increased glutathione and catalase levels associated with a reduction of lipid peroxidation. These results suggest that this is an effective dietary supplement for the prevention of cardiovascular diseases in individuals with metabolic syndrome.

Antitumoral activity of sesquiterpene lactone diacethylpiptocarphol in mice.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Sesquiterpene lactones are organic compounds derived from plants that exhibit anti-inflammatory and antitumor activities being one of the locking mechanisms of action of NF-kB pathway and synthesis of cytokines such as IL-1 and TNF- α. AIM OF THE STUDY: The overall objective of the present study was to evaluate the antitumor activity of the sesquiterpene lactone diacethylpiptocarphol (DPC) from Vernonia scorpioides (Lam.) Pers. in animal models Ehrlich tumors that has shown antitumor activity. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The antitumor effects of Intraperitonial administration of DPC (5mg/kg/day) were evaluated in Balb/c mice on Ehrlich tumors, and further the body weight, the ascitic cells volume measurement, solid tumor measured and TNF-α level was determinate. RESULTS: Balb/c mice bearing Ehrlich tumors were treated daily with 5mg/kg/day of the DPC for one week and showed no tumor in the peritoneum after treatment, besides presenting a reduction of TNF-α cytokine. Also the solid tumor reduced size after one week of treatment with DPC. CONCLUSIONS: Sesquiterpene lactone DPC, isolated from Vernonia scorpioides showed antitumor activity because it decreased the size of the solid tumor and abolished the ascitic tumor development, and also did not affect the mice body weight, however the treatment reduced the TNF-α level in mice.