Lycopene: A Potent Antioxidant with Multiple Health Benefits.

Lycopene is a naturally occurring carotenoid predominantly found in tomatoes and tomato-based products. Like other phytochemicals, it exhibits health beneficial biological activities that can be exploited when it is used as a dietary supplement. In vitro and in vivo, lycopene has been demonstrated to mitigate oxidative stress-induced metabolic dysfunctions and diseases including inflammation, obesity, and diabetes mellitus. Lycopene has been shown to alleviate metabolic diseases that affect the bone, eye, kidney, liver, lungs, heart, and nervous system. This review presents the state of the art regarding lycopene's health benefits and its potential applications in health system delivery. Furthermore, lycopene's protective effects against toxins, safety in its use, and possible toxicity are explored.

Neonatal administration of fenofibrate had no developmental programming effect on the lipid profile and relative leucocyte telomere lengths of adolescent rats fed a high-fructose diet postnatally.

Telomere length, a marker of ageing, is susceptible to developmental programming that may cause its accelerated attrition. Metabolic syndrome triggers telomere attrition. Fenofibrate, a peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-alpha agonist, is protective against telomere attrition. We investigated the impact of fenofibrate administered during suckling on the lipid profile and leucocyte telomere lengths of rats fed a high-fructose diet post-weaning. Suckling Sprague-Dawley pups (n = 119) were allocated to four groups and gavaged with either 10 mL·kg-1 body mass 0.5% dimethyl sulfoxide, 100 mg·kg-1 body mass fenofibrate, fructose (20%, w / v), or a combination of fenofibrate and fructose for 15 days. Upon weaning, each of the initial groups was split into two subgroups: one had plain water while the other had fructose solution (20%, w / v) to drink for 6 weeks. Blood was collected for DNA extraction and relative leucocyte telomere length determination by real-time PCR. Plasma triglycerides and cholesterol were also quantified. The treatments had no effect (p > 0.05) on body mass, cholesterol concentration, and relative leucocyte telomere lengths in both sexes. Post-weaning fructose increased triglyceride concentrations (p < 0.05) in female rats. Fenofibrate administered during suckling did not affect ageing nor did it prevent high fructose-induced hypertriglyceridaemia in female rats.

Neonatal Orally Administered Zingerone Attenuates Alcohol-Induced Fatty Liver Disease in Experimental Rat Models.

Alcohol intake at different developmental stages can lead to the development of alcohol-induced fatty liver disease (AFLD). Zingerone (ZO) possess hepato-protective properties; thus, when administered neonatally, it could render protection against AFLD. This study aimed to evaluate the potential long-term protective effect of ZO against the development of AFLD. One hundred and twenty-three 10-day-old Sprague-Dawley rat pups (60 males; 63 females) were randomly assigned to four groups and orally administered the following treatment regimens daily during the pre-weaning period from postnatal day (PND) 12-21: group 1-nutritive milk (NM), group 2-NM +1 g/kg ethanol (Eth), group 3-NM + 40 mg/kg ZO, group 4-NM + Eth +ZO. From PND 46-100, each group from the neonatal stage was divided into two; subgroup I had tap water and subgroup II had ethanol solution as drinking fluid, respectively, for eight weeks. Mean daily ethanol intake, which ranged from 10 to 14.5 g/kg body mass/day, resulted in significant CYP2E1 elevation (p < 0.05). Both late single hit and double hit with alcohol increased liver fat content, caused hepatic macrosteatosis, dysregulated mRNA expression of SREBP1c and PPAR-α in male and female rats (p < 0.05). However, neonatal orally administered ZO protected against liver lipid accretion and SREBP1c upregulation in male rats only and attenuated the alcohol-induced hepatic PPAR-α downregulation and macrosteatosis in both sexes. This data suggests that neonatal orally administered zingerone can be a potential prophylactic agent against the development of AFLD.

ß-sitosterol as an alternative to oxytetracycline: Effect on growth performance, feed intake and utilization efficiency and viscera macromorphometry of Cobb 500 broiler chickens.

Antibiotics are used to fortify broiler chicken feeds as growth promoters. Chronic antibiotic use pollutes the environment and causes the development of antibiotic resistance. Natural alternatives that mimic the properties of antibiotics, without causing health and environmental challenges are required. ß-sitosterol has antimicrobial, antioxidant, digestive and immune system modulating and growth stimulating activities. We evaluated its potential to replace oxytetracycline as a growth-promoter in broiler chicken feeds. Two hundred and forty, one-day-old Cobb 500 broiler chicks were randomly allocated to four diets where ß-sitosterol replaced oxytetracycline at 0 mg/kg (control; fortified with 50 mg/kg oxytetracycline), 500 mg/kg, 1000 mg/kg and 1500 mg/kg (w/w) feed and fed for 6 weeks: 2 weeks for each growth phase. Each diet was replicated thrice with 20 chicks per replicate. Initial, weekly and terminal body mass (TBM) and daily feed intake (FI) were measured. Body mass gain (BMG), average daily gain (ADG) and feed conversion ratio were computed. Terminally, the chickens were fasted for 4 h then slaughtered and dressed. Gastrointestinal tract (GIT) and GIT accessory viscera masses and small and large intestine lengths were measured. Dietary fortification with ß-sitosterol had similar effects (P > 0.05) to oxytetracycline on the chickens' TBM, BMG, ADG, FI and utilisation efficiency and GIT organ macromorphometry. In conclusion, ß-sitosterol can replace oxytetracycline in Cobb 500 broiler chicken feeds without compromising growth performance, feed intake and utilisation efficiency and GIT organ growth and development.

Orally administered zingerone does not mitigate alcohol-induced hepatic oxidative stress in growing Sprague Dawley rat pups.

Neonatal alcohol exposure (NAE) can induce oxidative stress. We determined whether zingerone (ZO), a phytochemical with anti-oxidant activity, can mitigate the negative impact of neonatal alcohol-induced oxidative stress. Seventy ten-day-old Sprague-Dawley rat pups (35 male, 35 female) were randomly assigned and administered the following treatment regimens daily from postnatal day (PND) 12-21: group 1 - nutritive milk (NM), group 2 - NM +1 g/kg ethanol (Eth), group 3 - NM + 40 mg/kg ZO, group 4 - NM + Eth + ZO. Growth performance, blood glucose and plasma triglycerides (TGs), total cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol, leptin and insulin concentration were determined. Cytochrome p450E21(CYP2E1) and thiobarbituric acid (TBARS); markers of hepatic oxidative stress and catalase, superoxide dismutase (SOD) and total glutathione (GSH), anti-oxidant markers of the pups were determined. Oral administration of ethanol (NM + Eth), zingerone (NM + ZO) and combined ethanol and zingerone (NM + Eth + ZO) did not affect the growth performance and insulin and leptin concentration of the rats (p > 0.05). Ethanol significantly reduced plasma TGs concentration of female rats (p = 0.04 vs control). However, ethanol and/or its combination with zingerone decreased hepatic GSH (p = 0.02 vs control) and increased CYP2E1 (p = 0.0002 vs control) activity in male rat pups. Zingerone had no effect (p > 0.05 vs control) on the rats' CYP2E1, GSH, SOD and catalase activities. Neonatal alcohol administration elicited hepatic oxidative stress in male rat pups only, showing sexual dimorphism. Zingerone (NM + ZO) prevented an increase in CYP2E1 activity and a decrease in GSH concentration but did not prevent the alcohol-induced hepatic oxidative stress in the male rat pups.

Consumer Preference for the Chevon Sausage in Blind and Nonblind Sensory Evaluations: A Comparative Study.

There are strong perceptions regarding chevon consumption, with its strong aroma and smell and its stringiness and gaminess being chief among them. Processing chevon into by-products has resolved this negative perception associated with fresh chevon. A blind and nonblind comparative sensory evaluation was performed to investigate participant preference for the chevon sausage versus pork and beef sausages. The sausages were made from minced shoulder meat. After grilling the sausages, they were cut into 0.5 cm thick slices. There were 52 and 20 participants in the blind and nonblind sensory evaluations, respectively. Using a 9-point hedonic scale, the participants evaluated each sausage for its juiciness, flavor, tenderness, and overall satisfaction. During the blind sensory evaluation, the participants were also asked to identify one of the most distinct sausages since the identity of the sausages was not known. The results showed no significant differences (P > 0.05) in the preferences for any of the sausages during the blind sensory evaluation. The choice for the most distinct sausage showed that pork (57.69%), beef (32.69%), and chevon (9.62%) sausages were all recognized. In the nonblind sensory, knowledge of the identity of the sausage significantly (P < 0.05) influenced South African participants' liking of the chevon sausage, with pork and chevon being the most and least liked sausages, respectively.

Sclerocarya birrea caffra nut meal as a substitute to soyabean meal: Effects on growth performance, feed intake and utilisation and viscera macromorphometry of blue-helmeted guinea fowl.

Imported soyabean meal (SBM) is the major dietary protein (DP) source for the sub-Saharan African poultry industry making poultry production costly. Therefore, alternative locally available DP sources are required. We evaluated the potential of locally available Marula nut meal (MNM) to substitute SBM in Guinea fowl (GF) diets by determining its effects on growth, feed intake (FI) and utilisation and viscera macromorphometry. Five grower diets wherein, on a CP basis, MNM substituted SBM at 0, 25, 50, 75 and 100% were formulated. Thirty-eight 4-week-old keets (n = 7 - 8), each individually housed in a cage, were randomly assigned to grower diets, and fed for 5 weeks and then transferred to corresponding finisher diets and fed for 3 weeks. Induction and weekly body mass, daily FI, and terminal body mass (TBM), body mass gain (BMG), average daily gain (ADG) and feed conversion ratio (FCR) were determined. On slaughter, viscera masses, small and large intestines lengths, tibiae and femora indices were determined. In week 2 of the grower phase GF fed diet 3 (50% MNM CP) had the highest weekly BMG and ADG (P < 0.05) and in week 5 GF fed diet 5 (100% MNM CP) had the highest FI (P < 0.05). Dietary MNM did not affect the GF's BMG, ADG, FI and FCR during weeks 1, 3 and 4 of the grower phase. In week 3 of the finisher phase GF fed diet 3 (50% MNM CP) had the highest (P < 0.05) FCR. Dietary MNM had no effect (P > 0.05) on the trial BMG, ADG and FI of the GF but GF reared on grower and finisher diets 3 (50% substitution of SBM CP) had the highest (P < 0.05) FCR. MNM had no effect on tibiae and femora masses, lengths, and mass: length ratios and viscera macromorphometry of the GF. We conclude that MNM can, on a CP basis, substitute SBM, in GF grower and finisher diets at 25%, 75% and 100% without compromising growth, FI and utilization and viscera of GF.

Effect of Teucrium trifidum powder on some meat quality attributes of chevon under refrigerated storage.

We investigated the effect of T. trifidum on the shelf-life and quality of chevon kept for eight days at 4 ± 1 °C in polyethylene pouches. Different powder levels of T. trifidum (0.5 %, 1.0 %, and 2.0 % w/w) and 0.02 % w/w butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT) were used to treat the chevon samples. The T. trifidum and BHT treated chevon was compared to untreated chevon (control). Colour, ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP), lactic acid bacteria (LAB) counts, oxidative stability, pH and total viable counts (TVC) were all measured while the samples were in storage. Treatment demonstrated a significant (P < 0.05) influence on pH with chevon preserved with T. trifidum powder (2 %), having a lower pH than the chevon preserved with BHT and the control. The colour of chevon (lightness, redness and yellowness) was shown to differ (P < 0.05) across treatments. The redness (a∗) and yellowness (b∗) reduced as the refrigeration period lengthened (P < 0.05). In contrast, the lightness (L∗) of chevon intensified as the storage period lengthened (P < 0.05). The TBARS considerably reduced (P < 0.05) in samples subjected to T. trifidum powder and BHT, with respect to the untreated sample. There was an increase in the FRAP activity as the amount of T. trifidum powder (P < 0.05) was increased. The FRAP values were shown to be inversely related to the TBARS values, implying that the addition of T. trifidum powder could slow lipid oxidation. In comparison with the control, T. trifidum powder inhibited bacterial growth during storage as measured by a significant reduction in TVC and LAB counts (P < 0.05). It is concluded that, T. trifidum powder has potent antioxidant and antimicrobial activity in refrigerated ground chevon thus can be potentially used to preserve the quality of refrigerator stored ground chevon.

Differential Expression of Platelet Activation Markers, CD62P and CD63, after Exposure to Breast Cancer Cells Treated with Kigelia Africana, Ximenia Caffra and Mimusops Zeyheri Seed Oils In Vitro.

Cancer patients, including breast cancer patients, live in a hypercoagulable state. Chemo- and hormone- therapy used in the treatment of breast cancer increases the risk of thrombosis. Due to differences in health care services between developed and developing countries, the survival rate of women with breast cancer in developing countries is low. Consequently, ethnomedicines are used and their efficacy as potential alternatives are being scientifically explored. The seed oils of Kigelia africana, Ximenia caffra and Mimusops zeyheri have anti-proliferative effects on hormone-dependent (MCF-7) and cytotoxic effects on hormone-independent (MDA-MB-231) breast cancer cells. In this study, we determined if these seed oils reduce the thrombogenic ability of breast cancer cells by measuring the platelet surface expression of the activation-specific antigens CD62P and CD63. MDA-MB-231 and MCF-7 cells were pretreated with the seed oils before being exposed to whole blood of human female volunteers. An increase in CD62P and CD63 expression following whole blood exposure to untreated breast cancer cells was observed. Treated MDA-MB-231 cells reduced CD62P and CD63 expression while treated MCF-7 cells increased CD62P and decreased CD63 expression. Kigelia africana, Ximenia caffra and Mimusops zeyheri seed oils are able to reduce the thrombogenic ability of MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cells.

Early-life exposure to alcohol and the risk of alcohol-induced liver disease in adulthood.

Alcohol consumption remains prevalent among pregnant and nursing mothers despite the well-documented adverse effects this may have on the offspring. Moderate-to-high levels of alcohol consumption in pregnancy result in fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS) disorders, with brain defects being chief among the abnormalities. Recent findings indicate that while light-to-moderate levels may not cause FAS, it may contribute to epigenetic changes that make the offspring prone to adverse health outcomes including metabolic disorders and an increased propensity in the adolescent-onset of drinking alcohol. On the one hand, prenatal alcohol exposure (PAE) causes epigenetic changes that affect lipid and glucose transcript regulating genes resulting in metabolic abnormalities. On the other hand, it can program offspring for increased alcohol intake, enhance its palatability, and increase acceptance of alcohol's flavor through associative learning, making alcohol a plausible second hit for the development of alcohol-induced liver disease. Adolescent drinking results in alcohol dependence and abuse in adulthood. Adolescent drinking results in alcohol dependence and abuse in adulthood. Alterations on the opioid system, particularly, the mu-opioid system, has been implicated in the mechanism that induces increased alcohol consumption and acceptance. This review proposes a mechanism that links PAE to the development of alcoholism and eventually to alcoholic liver disease (ALD), which results from prolonged alcohol consumption. While PAE may not lead to ALD development in childhood, there are chances that it may lead to ALD in adulthood.

Administration of ursolic acid to new-born pups prevents dietary fructose-induced non-alcoholic fatty liver disease in Sprague Dawley rats.

Overconsumption of fructose time dependently induces the development of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). We investigated whether ursolic acid (UA) intake by new-born rats would protect against fructose-induced NAFLD. One hundred and seven male and female Sprague Dawley rat pups were randomly grouped and gavaged (10 ml/kg body weight) with either 0.5% dimethylsulphoxide (vehicle control), 0.05% UA, 50% fructose mixed with UA (0.05%) or 50% fructose alone, from postnatal day 6 (P6) to P20. Post-weaning (P21-P69), the rats received normal rat chow (NRC) and water to drink. On P70, the rats in each group were continued on water or 20% fructose to drink, as a secondary high fructose diet during adulthood. After 8 weeks, body mass, food and fluid intake, circulating metabolites, visceral adiposity, surrogate markers of liver function and indices of NAFLD were determined. Food intake was reduced as a result of fructose feeding in both male and female rats (p < 0.0001). Fructose consumption in adulthood significantly increased fluid intake and visceral adiposity in female rats (p < 0.05) and had no apparent effects in male rats (p > 0.05). In both sexes of rats, fructose had no significant (p > 0.05) effects on body mass, circulating metabolites, total calorie intake and surrogate markers of hepatic function. Fructose consumption in both early life and adulthood in female rats promoted hepatic lipid accumulation (p < 0.001), hypertrophy, microvesicular and macrovesicular steatosis (p < 0.05). Early-life UA intake significantly (p < 0.001) reduced fructose-induced hepatic lipid accumulation in both male and female rats. Administration of UA during periods of developmental plasticity shows prophylactic potential against dietary fructose-induced NAFLD.

Phytochemical screening and in vitro evaluation of antioxidant and antibacterial activities of Teucrium trifidum crude extracts.

The objective of the investigation was to identify biologically active polyphenols and to determine the antioxidant and antimicrobial capacity of Teucrium trifidum extracted with different organic solvents (acetone, ethanol and methanol) and distilled water. The results of the study revealed varying levels of polyphenols in the different solvent extracts. Condensed tannin, flavonoid and total phenolic content ranged from (77.339 ± 1.068) to (99.395 ± 1.490) mg CE/g; (3.398 ± 0.2410) to (53.253 ± 0.638) mg QE/g; (14.1087 ± 0.0915) to (21.7977 ± 0.0279) mg GAE/g, respectively. The extracts demonstrated high antioxidant activity in 2,2'-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS), 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), nitric oxide (NO) and total antioxidant capacity (TAC) assays which were comparable to rutin and butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT) and increased with increasing concentrations of polyphenols extract (P < 0.05). The agar dilution assay of acetone, ethanol and methanol extracts revealed an appreciable broad-spectrum activity against tested pathogenic bacteria. The findings of this study provide evidence that T. trifidum can be used as a natural source of antioxidant and antimicrobial components.

Red milkwood (Mimusops zeyheri) seed meal can replace maize meal in Japanese quail finisher diets without compromising growth performance, feed economy and carcass yield.

Mimusops zeyheri is widely distributed in sub-Saharan Africa and its seed meal (MZSM) has a higher energy content than maize meal (MM). We evaluated the potential of MZSM to substitute MM in Japanese quail finisher diets by determining its effects on growth performance, feed intake (FI) and feed utilisation efficiency, abdominal fat deposition and carcass yield. In a completely randomised design thirty-two 5-weeks old male Japanese quail were allocated to four diets wherein MZSM replaced MM at 0%, 12.5%, 25% and 37.5% (gross energy basis) and fed ad libitum for 4 weeks. Initial and weekly body weight, final body weight (FBW) and daily FI were measured. Body weight gain (BWG), average daily gain (ADG) and feed conversion ratio (FRC) were computed. At the end of the trial, following a 4-hour fast, the quail were weighed then humanely slaughtered and dressed. Carcass weight and dressing percent were determined. Abdominal fat was weighed. MZSM did not affect (P>0.05) the quail's FBW, BWG, ADG, FCR, carcass weight and dressing percent. MZSM at 37.5% inclusion decreased (P<0.0001) FI in weeks 1 and 2 and total FI of the quail. Dietary M. zeyheri seed meal decreased (P<0.0001) abdominal fat mass. Use of MZSM would be most economic at 37.5% inclusion because despite decreasing total FI, growth performance was similar to control. M. zeyheri seed meal can be used as a dietary energy source in Japanese quail finisher diets without compromising growth performance, feed utilisation efficiency and carcass yield.

The effect of dietary Marula nut meal on the physical properties, proximate and fatty acid content of Japanese quail meat.

Soyabean meal (SBM) is the major dietary protein source for the poultry industry in sub-Saharan Africa. Due to inadequate local soyabean production, alternative protein sources are required. Two hundred 9-day old Japanese quail chicks were randomly allocated to grower diets wherein Marula nut meal (MNM) substituted SBM on a crude protein (CP) basis at 0%, 25%, 50%, 75% and 100% and fed for 4 weeks, followed by being fed on similarly formulated finisher diets for 2 weeks, and thereafter they were humanely slaughtered and dressed. Initial pH (pHi) and ultimate (pHu), colour, thawing loss (TL), cooking loss (CL), tenderness, proximate and fatty acid (FA) composition of the breast and thigh meat were determined. The results showed that pHi and pHu of meat from carcasses of quail fed diet 1 was lower, but had lighter and less red meat than that from counterparts fed diet 5 (P < 0.01). Dietary MNM had no effect (P>0.05) on TL, CL and tenderness of the meat. The ash content of the meat increased with an increase in dietary MNM, but its CP and fat decreased (P < 0.05). In addition, the total saturated FA content of meat from birds fed diet 4 was lower (P < 0.05) than other counterparts. Meat from birds fed diets 1 and 2 had a lower oleic acid (OA) content in comparison to meat from birds fed diets 3, 4 and 5. MNM can potentially be utilised in quail feeds without compromising the physical and proximate properties of the meat. Also, it can be used to produce lean but OA-rich meat with possible potential health benefits to consumers.

In vitro efficacy of Elephantorrhiza elephantina root extracts against adult Paramphistomum cervi in goats.

Elephantorrhiza elephantina is a medicinally important plant whose roots are used to control gastrointestinal parasites in goats. The use of plant-based anthelmintics as potential alternatives to synthetic anthelmintics in controlling gastrointestinal worms in ruminants is a promising area of research. The study was carried out to ascertain the efficacy of E. elephantina in controlling goat trematodes. Standard procedures were used to quantify the phytochemicals in the water, ethanol and methanol root extracts of E. elephantina. The quantitative phytochemical analysis revealed that alkaloids (93.24 ± 1.68%), condensed tannins (450.52 ± 0.15 mg CE/g), flavonoids (803.93 ± 0.13 mg QE/g), phenols (476.11 ± 0.37 mg GAE/g) and saponins (83.28 ± 1.72%) were present in E. elephantina root extracts. Paramphistomum cervi adult worms recovered from the rumen of freshly slaughtered goats were used. In vitro screening of ethanol, methanol and water extracts of E. elephantina for potential anthelmintic activity against adult P. cervi worm motility showed time and dose-dependent significant effects. Ethanol extracts showed a highly significant (P < 0.05) inhibition of motility (86.67 and 96.67%) at concentrations 7.5 and 15 mg/mL respectively, after 12 h of treatment, while methanol and water extracts exhibited a significant (P < 0.05) inhibition of motility (96.67 and 66.67% respectively) at concentration of 15 mg/mL 16 h post-exposure. Our findings confirm the efficacy of E. elephantina in controlling goat trematodes.

ß-Sitosterol mitigates the development of high-fructose diet-induced nonalcoholic fatty liver disease in growing male Sprague-Dawley rats.

Fructose contributes to the development of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). ß-Sitosterol (Bst), a naturally occurring phytosterol, has antihyperlipidaemic and hepatoprotective properties. This study interrogated the potential protective effect of ß-sitosterol against NAFLD in growing rats fed a high-fructose diet, modelling children fed obesogenic diets. Forty-four 21 day old male rat pups were randomly allocated to and administered the following treatments for 12 weeks: group I, standard rat chow (SRC) + plain drinking water (PW) + plain gelatine cube (PC); group II, SRC + 20% w/v fructose solution (FS) as drinking fluid + PC; group III, SRC + FS + 100 mg/kg fenofibrate in a gelatine cube; group IV, SRC + FS + 20 mg/kg ß-sitosterol gelatine cube (Bst); group V, SRC + PW + Bst. Terminally, the livers were dissected out, weighed, total liver lipid content determined, and histological analyses done. Harvested plasma was used to determine the surrogate biomarkers of liver function. The high-fructose diet caused increased (p < 0.05) hepatic lipid (total) accretion (>10% liver mass), micro- and macrovesicular hepatic steatosis, and hepatic inflammation. ß-Sitosterol and fenofibrate prevented the high-fructose diet-induced macrovesicular steatosis and prevented the progression of NAFLD to steatohepatitis. ß-Sitosterol can prospectively be used to mitigate diet-induced NAFLD.

ß-Sitosterol Shows Potential to Protect Against the Development of High-Fructose Diet-Induced Metabolic Dysfunction in Female Rats.

Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is a combination of risk factors that include insulin resistance, obesity, dyslipidemia, and hypertension. The consumption of high-fructose diets contributes to the development of MetS. ß-sitosterol a naturally occurring phytosterol possesses antiobesogenic and antidiabetic effects. This study evaluated the potential protective effect of ß-sitosterol against the development of metabolic dysfunction in growing female rats fed a high-fructose diet, mimicking children fed obesogenic diets. Thirty-five 21-day-old female Sprague Dawley rat pups were randomly allocated to and administered the following treatments: group 1-standard rat chow (SRC) + plain drinking water (PW) + plain gelatine cube (PC); group 2-SRC + 20% w/w fructose solution (FS) as drinking fluid + PC; group 3-SRC + FS + 100 mg/kg fenofibrate in gelatine cubes; group 4-SRC + FS + 20 mg/kg ß-sitosterol gelatine cube (Bst); and group 5-SRC + PW + Bst. Following 12 weeks of feeding, the rats were fasted overnight, weighed, and then euthanized. Plasma cholesterol, insulin, glucose, triglyceride, and adiponectin concentrations were determined. Visceral fat was dissected out and weighed. The high-fructose diet increased (P < .05) visceral adiposity and plasma triglyceride concentration but decreased (P < .05) plasma adiponectin concentration. ß-sitosterol prevented the high-fructose diet-induced visceral obesity, hypertriglyceridemia, and hypoadiponectinemia. ß-sitosterol alone increased plasma adiponectin concentration and reduced plasma insulin concentration and homeostatic model assessment index. In conclusion, ß-sitosterol could be potentially used to prevent high-fructose diet-induced metabolic dysfunction.

The potential developmental programming effect of oral curcumin on the bone health and plasma total osteocalcin of male and female rats fed a high-fructose diet during suckling and post weaning.

We investigated the effect of oral curcumin, on bone health of rats fed a high-fructose diet. Suckling pups (males = 65, females = 63) were gavage with 0.5% DMSO, curcumin (500 mg/kg), fructose (20%, w/v) or a combination of curcumin and fructose daily from postnatal days 6 to 21. Then the rats were weaned onto normal rat feed for six weeks and each group was sub-divided into two subgroups: one had plain tap water and the other had fructose (20%, w/v) to drink. Blood was assayed for plasma total osteocalcin. Morphometry and radiographic bone density assessments were made on the femora and tibiae. The lengths, masses and Seedor indices of the bones were similar (p > 0.05, ANOVA) across the groups. Males that received curcumin with or without fructose during suckling and weaned onto a high-fructose diet had lower (p ≤ 0.05, ANOVA) osteocalcin concentration versus the other males. Similarly, in females rats, curcumin alone or administered with fructose resulted in lower (p ≤ 0.05, ANOVA) osteocalcin concentration versus female rats administered the vehicle control. Neonatal curcumin-induced decrease in plasma total osteocalcin concentration may predispose to adverse consequences on glucose metabolism and bone health.

Effect of crude Moringa oleifera Lam. seed extract on the blood markers of metabolic syndrome in high-fructose diet-fed growing Sprague-Dawley rats.

Background Moringa oleifera seed has anti-diabetic and anti-obesogenic properties. This study interrogated the effect of crude hydroethanolic M. oleifera seed extract on the blood markers of metabolic syndrome (MetS) in high-fructose diet fed growing Sprague-Dawley rats. Methods Sixty 21-day old female and male Sprague-Dawley rat pups were randomly allocated to and administered one of the following treatment regimens daily for twelve weeks: group I - plain drinking water (PW)+plain gelatine cube (PC), group II - 20% (w/v) fructose solution (FS)+PC, group III - FS+100 mg/kg body mass fenofibrate in gelatine cube (FN), group IV - FS+low dose (50 mg/kg body mass) of M. oleifera in gelatine cube (LMol) and group V - FS+high dose (500 mg/kg body mass) of M. oleifera in gelatine cube (HMol). The rats in each treatment regimen had ad libitum access to a standard rat chow. After the 12-week trial, the rats were subjected to an oral glucose tolerance test and then euthanised 48 h later. Blood was collected. Plasma triglyceride, cholesterol and insulin concentration were determined. HOMA-IR was then computed. Results The high-fructose diet increased (p<0.05) plasma insulin concentration and HOMA-IR in female rats only. It increased plasma triglyceride concentration in both female and male rats and plasma cholesterol concentration in male rats only. The crude hydroethanolic M. oleifera seed extract prevented the high-fructose diet-induced metabolic derangements in male and female rats. Conclusion Crude hydroethanolic M. oleifera seed extract can potentially be used as a prophylactic intervention for diet-induced MetS in children.

The long-term protective effects of neonatal administration of curcumin against nonalcoholic steatohepatitis in high-fructose-fed adolescent rats.

There is an increased prevalence of nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) in adolescents. The suckling period is developmentally plastic, affecting later health outcomes. We investigated whether neonatal administration of curcumin would provide protection against the development of NASH later in adolescence in rats fed a high-fructose diet. From postnatal day (PN) 6 to PN 21, the pups (N = 128) were allocated to four groups and orally gavaged daily with either 0.5% dimethyl sulfoxide solution (vehicle control), curcumin (500 mg·kg-1 ), fructose (20%, w/v) or curcumin and fructose combined. All the pups were weaned and half the rats in each group had tap water, whereas the other received fructose (20%) as their drinking fluid ad libitum for 6 weeks. The rats' liver NASH scores, lipid content, and RNA gene expression ratios of AMPKα and TNFα were determined. Hepatic lipid content was similar across the treatment groups in the males (P > 0.05, ANOVA). In the females, the hepatic lipid content in the treatment groups ranged from 2.7 to 4.3%. The livers of male and female rats that had fructose either as neonates and/or postweaning had significantly marked inflammation (P = 0.0112, Kruskal-Wallis) and fibrosis (P < 0.0001, ANOVA) which were attenuated by curcumin. The hepatic gene expression ratios for AMPKα in both sexes were significantly downregulated (P < 0.0001, ANOVA), whereas the expression ratios of TNFα were significantly upregulated (P < 0.0001) in rats fed a high-fructose diet pre and/or postweaning compared to the other groups. Neonatal curcumin administration is a potential natural pharmacological candidate for the prevention of NASH.