Bitter gourd (Momordica charantia L. ) seed oil as a naturally rich source of bioactive compounds for nutraceutical purposes

Background: Characterization of food lipids has triggered the development of applications for the food and health industries. Thus, the lipid profiles of an increasing number of fruits and their seeds have been characterized and numerous bioactive components have been isolated. The bitter gourd seed oil has aroused great interest because it contains relevant amounts of conjugated fatty acid α-eleostearic acid (C18:3 9c11t13t), a positional and geometric isomer of α-linolenic acid. The aim of this paper was to evaluate the phytochemical composition and quality parameters of the seed oil of bitter gourd grown in Brazil. Methods: Bitter gourd was purchased from CEAGESP (Brazilian company of fresh food storages and warehouses). Seeds were lyophilized, and their oil was extracted using the Soxhlet and Folch extraction methods. The profiles of fatty acids and phytosterols were analyzed by gas chromatography, and the acidity and peroxide values were evaluated by methods of the American Oil Chemists' Society (AOCS). Results: The Soxhlet extraction (40 % w / w ) resulted in a higher yield of bitter gourd seed oil than the Folch extraction (16 % w / w). For both methods, α-eleostearic acid (56 and 58 %) was the major lipid in bitter gourd seed oil, followed by stearic acid (C18:0; 32 and 27 %). The oil displayed high content of phytosterols (886 mg/100 g), mainly ß-sitosterol, and low acidity and peroxide values. Conclusions: Bitter gourd seed oil from Brazil is an oil of good quality and its high contents of α-eleostearic acid and phytosterols with potential health-beneficial properties make it an attractive plant byproduct.

Efeitos dos isômeros conjugados do ácido linoleico sobre a peroxidação lipídica em ratos / Effects of conjugated linoleic acid isomers on lipid peroxidation in rats

Ácidos graxos conjugados (AGCs) é o termo geral para descrever os isômeros posicionais e geométricos dos ácidos graxos poliinsaturados com duplas ligações conjugadas. Inúmeros efeitos benéficos para a saúde como: anti-cancerígeno, anti-aterogênicos, anti-adipogênicos e anti-inflamatórios, tem sido atribuídos ao consumo dos AGCs. Entretanto, estudos sobre os efeitos dos AGCs no organismo ainda são inconclusivos e por isso o interesse em pesquisas visando a sua participação em processos fisiológicos. O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar em ratos o efeito dos isômeros conjugados do ácido linoleico (9cis, 11trans e 10trans, 12cis) sobre o perfil lipídico tecidual e sua influência sobre parâmetros bioquímicos em processos oxidativos. Não foi possível detectar a atividade antioxidante in vitro dos CLAs. Os resultados obtidos demonstraram que o FFA-CLA foi capaz de reagir apenas com o radical DPPH. No experimento in vivo uma mistura comercial dos isômeros (9cis, 11trans e 10trans, 12 cis) foi utilizada como fonte de CLAs, e a influência da suplementação desses isômeros, foi avaliada e comparada com um grupo controle suplementado com água e com grupos experimentais suplementados com óleo de soja. O primeiro experimento foi realizado com animais Wistar saudáveis e teve duração de 40 dias, as amostras de ácidos graxos livres de CLAs, (FFACLAs) e óleo de soja foram fornecidas aos animais por meio de entubação orogástrica nas concentrações de 1%, 2% e 4% em relação ao consumo diário de dieta, o grupo controle recebeu 1% de água. A suplementação da dieta dos animais com os CLAs leva ao aumento nos níveis de triglicérides, mas não interfere nos parâmetros de estresse oxidativo, embora haja incorporação dose-dependente nos tecidos hepático, muscular e adiposo, não foram observadas alterações no volume das células adiposas, e na área e diâmetro do tecido muscular. No segundo experimento, com duração de 21 dias, ao avaliar o efeito da suplementação na dose de 2% de CLAs em...

Conjugated fatty acids (CFAs) is the general term to describe positional and geometric isomers of polyunsaturated fatty acids with conjugated double bonds. Many beneficial health effects such as anti-cancer, anti-atherogenic, anti-adipogenic and anti-inflammatory, has been attributed to the consumption of the CFAs. However, studies on the effects of the CFAs in the body are still inconclusive and therefore the interest in research aimed at their participation in processes physiological. The objective of this study was to evaluate in rats the effect of conjugated linoleic acid isomers (9cis, 11trans and 10trans, 12cis) on lipid profile tissue and its effect on biochemical parameters in oxidative processes. It was not possible to detect the in vitro antioxidant activity of CLAs. The results showed that the free fatty acids of CLAs (FFA-CLAs) was able to react only with the DPPH radical. In in vivo experiment a commercial mixture of isomers (9cis, 11trans and 10trans, 12cis) was used as a source of CLAs and the influence of supplementation of these isomers was evaluated and compared with a control group supplemented with water and experimental groups supplemented with soybean oil. The first experiment was conducted with healthy Wistar and lasted 40 days, samples of FFA-CLA and soybean oil were delivered to animals via orogastric intubation at concentrations of 1%, 2 % and 4% in relation to daily diet, the control group received 1% water. Supplementing the diet with CLAs leads to increased levels of triglycerides, but does not interfere with oxidative stress parameters, although there is a dose-dependent incorporation into liver tissue, muscle and fat, no changes were observed in the volume of fat cells, and in the area and diameter of muscle tissue. In the second experiment, lasting 21 days, to evaluate the effect of supplementation at a dose of 2% of CLAs in Wistar, tha peroxidation induced by treatment with carbon tetrachloride. Could be observed...

Efeito do extrato aquoso de alecrim (Rosmarinus officinalis L. ) sobre o estresse oxidativo em ratos diabéticos / Effect of aqueous rosemary extract (Rosmarinus officinalis L. ) on the oxidative stress of diabetic rats

OBJETIVO: Avaliar o efeito do extrato aquoso de alecrim sobre o estresse oxidativo em ratos diabéticos. MÉTODOS: O extrato aquoso de alecrim foi obtido por método sequencial. Os fenólicos totais foram determinados pelo método de Folin Ciocateau e a atividade antioxidante in vitro foi determinada através de três métodos: β-caroteno/ácido linoleico, varredura do radical 2,2 Difenil-1-Picril-hidrazil e oxigen radical absorbance capacity. Ratos Wistar machos foram distribuídos em 5 grupos: controle, diabético, e três grupos de animais diabéticos tratados com extrato aquoso de alecrim em concentrações diferentes: 25, 50 ou 100mg/kg por via oral durante 30 dias. O diabetes foi induzido por estreptozotocina e, no final do experimento, foi coletado sangue para avaliar o percentual de hemoglobina glicada e os tecidos hepático e cerebral para determinação das enzimas antioxidantes: superóxido dismutase, catalase, glutationa peroxidase e glutationa redutase. RESULTADOS: Constatou-se que o extrato aquoso de alecrim apresentou altos teores de compostos fenólicos totais e expressiva atividade antioxidante in vitro nos três métodos de avaliação. O extrato aquoso de alecrim na concentração de 50mg/kg diminuiu o percentual de hemoglobina glicada e aumentou a atividade das enzimas catalase e glutationa peroxidase no fígado, e da superóxido dismutase no cérebro de ratos diabéticos. No entanto, não foi observado efeito dose-resposta nas demais concentrações analisadas. CONCLUSÃO: O extrato aquoso de alecrim apresenta significativa capacidade antioxidante in vitro, atribuída à presença de compostos fenólicos em sua composição. E, quando administrado em ratos na concentração de 50mg/kg, demonstrou-se eficiente na atenuação do estresse oxidativo presente no diabetes experimental.

OBJECTIVE: This study assessed the effect of aqueous rosemary extract on the oxidative stress of diabetic rats. METHODS: Aqueous rosemary extract was obtained by the sequential method. Total phenolic content was determined by the Folin Ciocateau method and antioxidant activity in vitro was determined by the following methods: β-carotene/linoleic acid, 2,2 Difenil-1-Picril-hidrazil and oxygen radical absorbance capacity. Male Wistar rats were distributed into 5 groups: control, diabetic, and three groups of diabetic animals treated with aqueous rosemary extract in different concentrations: 25, 50 or 100mg/kg orally for 30 days. Diabetes was induced by streptozotocin and, at the end of the experiment, blood was collected to assess the percentage of glycated hemoglobin; liver and brain tissues were collected for the determination of the antioxidant enzymes: superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutatione peroxidase and glutatione reductase. RESULTS: Aqueous rosemary extract contains high levels of phenolic compounds and significant total antioxidant activity in vitro according to the three methods. Aqueous rosemary extract at a concentration of 50mg/kg decreased the percentage of glycated hemoglobin and increased the activity of glutatiose peroxidase and catalase enzymes in the liver and superoxide dismutase in the brain of diabetic rats. However, no dose-response effect was observed in the other concentrations. CONCLUSION: Aqueous rosemary extract presented significant antioxidant capacity in vitro attributed to its high phenolic compound content. When administered to rats at a concentration of 50mg/kg, it proved to be efficient against the oxidative stress secondary to experimental diabetes.