Effects of Creatine Supplementation on the Myostatin Pathway and Myosin Heavy Chain Isoforms in Different Skeletal Muscles of Resistance-Trained Rats.

Creatine has been used to maximize resistance training effects on skeletal muscles, including muscle hypertrophy and fiber type changes. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of creatine supplementation on the myostatin pathway and myosin heavy chain (MyHC) isoforms in the slow- and fast-twitch muscles of resistance-trained rats. Twenty-eight male Wistar rats were divided into four groups: a sedentary control (Cc), sedentary creatine supplementation (Cr), resistance training (Tc), and resistance training combined with creatine supplementation (Tcr). Cc and Tc received standard commercial chow; Cr and Tcr received a 2% creatine-supplemented diet. Tc and Tcr performed a resistance training protocol on a ladder for 12 weeks. Morphology, MyHC isoforms, myostatin, follistatin, and ActRIIB protein expressions were analyzed in soleus and white gastrocnemius portion samples. The results were analyzed using two-way ANOVA and Tukey's test. Tc and Tcr exhibited higher performance than their control counterparts. Resistance training increased the ratio between muscle and body weight, the cross-sectional area, as well as the interstitial collagen fraction. Resistance training alone increased MyHC IIx and follistatin while reducing myostatin (p < 0.001) and ActRIIB (p = 0.040) expressions in the gastrocnemius. Resistance training induced skeletal muscle hypertrophy and interstitial remodeling, which are more evident in the gastrocnemius muscle. The effects were not impacted by creatine supplementation.

Effects of the Seed Oil of Carica papaya Linn on Food Consumption, Adiposity, Metabolic and Inflammatory Profile of Mice Using Hyperlipidic Diet.

BACKGROUND: Studies indicate that different parts of Carica papaya Linn have nutritional properties that mean it can be used as an adjuvant for the treatment of various pathologies. METHODS: The fatty acid composition of the oil extracted from the seeds of Carica papaya Linn was evaluated by gas chromatography, and an acute toxicity test was performed. For the experiment, Swiss mice were fed a balanced or high-fat diet and supplemented with saline, soybean oil, olive oil, or papaya seed oil. Oral glucose tolerance and insulin sensitivity tests were performed. After euthanasia, adiposity, glycemia, total cholesterol and fractions, insulin, resistin, leptin, MCP-1, TNF-α, and IL-6 and the histology of the liver, pancreas, and adipose tissue were evaluated. RESULTS: Papaya seed oil showed predominance of monounsaturated fatty acids in its composition. No changes were observed in the acute toxicity test. Had lower food intake in grams, and caloric intake and in the area of adipocytes without minimizing weight gain or adiposity and impacting the liver or pancreas. Reductions in total and non-HDL-c, LDL-c, and VLDL-c were also observed. The treatment had a hypoglycemic and protective effect on insulin resistance. Supplementation also resulted in higher leptin and lower insulin and cytokine resistance. CONCLUSIONS: Under these experimental conditions, papaya seed oil led to higher amounts of monounsaturated fatty acids and had hypocholesterolemic, hypotriglyceridemic, and hypoglycemic effects.

Characterization of Buriti (Mauritia flexuosa) Pulp Oil and the Effect of Its Supplementation in an In Vivo Experimental Model.

Mauritia flexuosa (Buriti) pulp oil contains bioactive substances and lipids that are protective against cardiovascular and inflammatory diseases. We performed physical and chemical analyses to verify its quality and stability. Buriti oil was stable according to the Rancimat test, presenting an induction period of 6.6 h. We evaluated the effect of supplementation with crude buriti oil and olive oil on metabolic parameters in 108 Swiss mice for 90 days. We investigated six groups: extra virgin olive oil (EVOO) 1 and 2 (1000 and 2000 mg/kg), buriti oil (BO) 1 and 2 (1000 and 2000 mg/kg), synergic (S) (BO1 + EVOO1), and control (water dose 1000 mg/kg). The animals were euthanized to examine their blood, livers, and fats. The supplementation did not interfere with food consumption, weight gain, and histological alterations in the liver. Group S showed the strongest relationship with the fractions HDL-c and non-HDL-c, indicating a possible cardioprotective effect. Moreover, we observed significantly higher IL-6 levels in the control, EVOO2, and BO1 groups than in the EVOO1 group. Resistin was also significantly higher for the synergic treatment than for the control. We conclude that BO combined with EVOO could be an excellent food supplement for human consumption.

Adulteration and Contamination of Commercial Sap of Hymenaea Species.

The Hymenaea stigonocarpa and Hymenaea martiana species, commonly known as "jatobá," produce a sap which is extracted by perforation of the trunk and is commonly used in folk medicine as a tonic. For this study, the authenticity of commercial samples of jatobá was verified by the identification of the main compounds and multivariate analysis and contamination by microbial presence analysis. The acute toxicity of the authentic jatobá sap was also evaluated. The metabolites composition and multivariate analysis revealed that none of the commercial samples were authentic. In the microbiological contamination analysis, five of the six commercial samples showed positive cultures within the range of 1,700-100,000 CFU/mL and the authentic sap produced no signs of toxicity, and from a histological point of view, there was the maintenance of tissue integrity. In brief, the commercial samples were deemed inappropriate for consumption and represent a danger to the population.

Tabebuia aurea decreases inflammatory, myotoxic and hemorrhagic activities induced by the venom of Bothrops neuwiedi.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Ethnobotanical studies show that Tabebuia aurea has been used as anti-inflammatory and for snake bite. Evaluate the effect of treatment with the hydroethanolic extract of Tabebuia aurea (HETa) on inflammatory, hemorrhagic and myotoxic activities induced by Bothrops neuwiedi (BnV) in mice. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The anti-inflammatory, antihemorragic and antimyotoxic properties of the HETa 100, 200 and 400mg/kg or BnV neutralized with HETa (1:50) were evaluated using the following animal models: BnV-induced paw edema, BnV-induced recruitment of polymorphonuclear cells into the peritoneal cavity, hemorrhagic activity, myotoxic activity and hydrogen peroxide production by peritoneal macrophages in vitro. RESULTS: HETa inhibited the paw edema and polymorphonuclear cell recruitment into the peritoneal cavity. BnV neutralized with HETa reduced the hemorrhagic activity and histopathological analysis of skeletal muscle tissue showed that the hemorrhagic area was smaller and multifocal. The leukocyte infiltrate was less intense and muscle necrosis discrete. BnV induced hydrogen peroxide production and BnV neutralized reduced this production. In addition, the HETa was nontoxic to macrophages. CONCLUSIONS: The activities of the HETa presented herein justify the popular use of Tabebuia aurea in inflammatory situations from snake bite.

Baccharis trimera: effect on hematological and biochemical parameters and hepatorenal evaluation in pregnant rats.

AIM OF THE STUDY: This investigation evaluated the effect of a hydroethanolic extract of Baccharis trimera on pregnant Wistar rats, once the plant is well-known consumed in pregnancy and little is known on its potentially toxic effects on pregnant women. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Thirty-five female rats were distributed into three groups. Those in treatments 1 and 2 were given 8.4 mg/kg of the extract orally from gestational day (GD) 1 to 19 and from GD 6 to 15, respectively, whereas those in the control group received distilled water orally from GD 1 to 19. Body weights were recorded on GD 1, 6, 15, and 20. On GD 20 animals were anesthetized, blood samples were collected and maternal livers, kidneys, and spleens were weighed and processed for histological studies. RESULTS: No clinical signs of maternal toxicity and no changes in hematological parameters were observed. Urea levels and kidney weights differed significantly between animals receiving treatment 1 and controls. Histopathological alterations were found in kidneys and livers in both treatment groups. CONCLUSIONS: The hydroethanolic extract of Baccharis trimera administered to pregnant rats at 8.4 mg/kg was toxic to maternal kidney and liver cells, although such alterations are reversible once administration is discontinued.