Sacha Inchi (Plukenetia volubilis L.) Oil Improves Hepatic Insulin Sensitivity and Glucose Metabolism through Insulin Signaling Pathway in a Rat Model of Type 2 Diabetes.

This study aimed to evaluate the role of sacha inchi oil (SI) in alleviating hepatic insulin resistance and improving glucose metabolism by inhibiting oxidative stress and inflammation in a rat model of type 2 diabetes. This model was established by providing a high-fat diet and streptozotocin to the rats, thereby inducing diabetes. The diabetic rats were treated orally with 0.5, 1, and 2 mL/kg body weight (b.w.) of SI or 30 mg/kg b.w. of pioglitazone daily for 5 weeks. Blood and hepatic tissues were used for insulin sensitivity, carbohydrate metabolism, oxidative stress, and inflammatory status assessment. Treatment with SI attenuated hyperglycemia and insulin resistance indices, and improved hepatic histopathological alterations in the diabetic rats in a dose-dependent manner, which is correlated with the decreased serum levels of the liver enzymes, alanine transaminase and aspartate transaminase. SI significantly diminished the hepatic oxidative status of the diabetic rats by inhibiting malondialdehyde and enhancing the antioxidant superoxide dismutase, catalase, and glutathione peroxidase activities. Moreover, pro-inflammatory cytokine levels, including tumor necrosis factor-α and interleukin-6, in the liver of the diabetic rats were significantly decreased by the SI. Furthermore, SI treatment enhanced the hepatic insulin sensitivity of the diabetic rats, as shown by the increased insulin receptor substrate-1 and p-Akt protein expression, decreased phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase-1 and glucose-6-phospatase protein expression, and increased hepatic glycogen content. Overall, these findings suggest that SI exerts a potential hepatic insulin-sensitizing effect and an improvement in glucose metabolism in the type 2 diabetic rats, at least in part through enhancing insulin signaling, antioxidant defense, and inhibiting inflammation.

Effects of Maturity and Thermal Treatment on Phenolic Profiles and In Vitro Health-Related Properties of Sacha Inchi Leaves.

Sacha inchi (Plukenetia volubilis L.) has been adopted as a novel economic crop with well-studied nutritional and bioactive benefits for human health. Sacha inchi seeds and oil have high commercial value but scant research has focused on its leaves. This study investigated and compared phenolic compositions, antioxidant potentials and in vitro health-related properties of both young and mature sacha inchi leaves after freeze-drying and oven-drying processes. Results showed that p-coumaric acid, 4-hydroxybenzoic acid, ferulic acid and gallic acid were predominantly detected in both young and mature leaves that also exhibited similar total phenolic contents (TPCs), while higher TPCs were detected in freeze-dried than in oven-dried leaves. Mature leaves exhibited higher antioxidant potential than young leaves after freeze-drying, while the opposite results were observed for oven-drying. Overall in vitro health-related activities were higher in mature leaves compared to young leaves regardless of the drying process. Knowledge gained from this study can be used to encourage prospective utilization of sacha inchi leaves as a source of health-promoting compounds. This, in turn, will increase the commercial value of the leaves and provide a wider market variety of sacha inchi products.

Metabolite-Flavor Profile, Phenolic Content, and Antioxidant Activity Changes in Sacha Inchi (Plukenetia volubilis L.) Seeds during Germination.

Sacha inchi seeds are abundant in nutrients such as linolenic acids and amino acids. Germination can further enhance their nutritional and medicinal value; however, germination time is positively correlated with off-flavor in germinated seeds. This study investigated the changes in the metabolite and flavor profiles and evaluated the nutritional quality of sacha inchi seeds 8 days after germination (DAG). We also determined their phenolic content and antioxidant activity. We used gas chromatography equipped with a flame ionization detector (GC-FID) and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) and identified 63 metabolites, including 18 fatty acid methyl esters (FAMEs). FAMEs had the highest concentration in ungerminated seeds, especially palmitic, stearic, linoleic, linolenic, and oleic acids. Amino acids, total phenolic compounds (TPCs), and antioxidant activity associated with health benefits increased with germination time. At the final germination stage, oxidation products were observed, which are associated with green, beany, and grassy odors and rancid and off-flavors. Germination is a valuable processing step to enhance the nutritional quality of sacha inchi seeds. These 6DAG or 8DAG seeds may be an alternative source of high-value-added compounds used in plant-protein-based products and isolated protein.

Structure, antioxidant and immunomodulatory activity of a polysaccharide extracted from Sacha inchi seeds.

In this study, a novel water-soluble polysaccharide (PVLP-1) was extracted and purified from Sacha inchi (Plukenetia volubilis L.) seeds and the structure, antioxidant and immunomodulatory activity of PVLP-1 were investigated. PVLP-1 (144 kDa) consisted of glucose (69.76%), mannose (14.86%), arabinose (10.53%), galactose (2.42%), ribose (1.23%), rhamnose (0.27%) and xylose (0.93%). PVLP-1 displayed characteristic polysaccharide bands in Fourier transform NMR spectra and infrared. The primary structure of PVLP-1 was a heteropolysaccharide with a backbone of (1 â†’ 6)-linked glucose, sidechains of (1 â†’ 4)-linked mannose, (1 â†’ 4)-linked glucose and (1 â†’ 3, 6)-linked mannose and a residue unit of →1)-linked arabinose as revealed the methylation analysis. PVLP-1 possessed good water-holding capacity (WHC), oil-holding capacity (OHC) and antioxidant capacities. Besides, PVLP-1 induced the proliferation of RAW264.7 cell and enhanced the expression of inflammatory cytokines IL-6, TNF-alpha(TNF-α) and IL-1 beta (IL-1ß). The present study indicated that PVLP-1 possessed immune-enhancing bioactivities and could be functional food or adjuvant drug to improve biological immunity of immunodeficiency diseases and hypoimmunity.

Repeatability of biometric and fruit and seed yield traits of sacha inchi / Repetibilidade de caracteres biométricos e de produção em frutos e sementes de sacha inchi

ABSTRACT Repeatability allows an estimation of the number of evaluations needed to optimize the selection of superior genotypes, with consequent effects on the research costs in terms of financial and human resources. The objective of this study was to estimate the coefficient of repeatability of biometric and yield traits, related to fruits and seeds of sacha inchi (Plukenetia volubilis), and to define the number of evaluations required for an efficient selection and evaluation of genotypes of the species. A total of 37 non-domesticated accessions were evaluated for 19 months in a randomized block design with 5 replications and 2 plants per plot. The total number of fruits, total number of seeds, total fruit weight, mean fruit weight, and number of seeds per fruit of the accessions were evaluated by monthly sampling. Additionally, seed biometry was assessed in a sample of 30 seeds per accession. Repeatability coefficients were estimated by analysis of variance, principal components and structural analysis. The principal component method based on the covariance matrix was the most appropriate for establishing repeatability estimates of sacha inchi, due to the cyclical nature of the crop. Superior genotypes of the species can be selected for yield-related traits with about 90% accuracy, from 5 harvests (months) onwards. To ensure this accuracy level, it would be necessary to evaluate a minimum of 5 and 25 fruits to determine mean fruit weight and number of seeds per fruit, respectively, and 39 seeds would be required to evaluate the biometric traits.

RESUMO A repetibilidade permite estimar o número de avaliações para selecionar genótipos superiores com maior eficiência, o que tem reflexo direto sobre os gastos com recursos humanos e financeiros da pesquisa. O objetivo deste trabalho foi estimar o coeficiente de repetibilidade de características biométricas e de produção relacionadas aos frutos e sementes de sacha inchi (Plukenetia volubilis) e definir o número de avaliações necessárias para um eficiente processo de seleção e avaliação de genótipos da espécie. Um total de 37 acessos não domesticados foram avaliados em blocos casualizados com 5 repetições e 2 plantas por parcela durante 19 meses. Colheitas mensais avaliaram o número total de frutos, número total de sementes, peso total de frutos, peso médio de frutos e número de sementes por fruto dos acessos. Adicionalmente, foi realizada a biometria das sementes através de uma amostra de 30 sementes de cada acesso. Os coeficientes de repetibilidade foram estimados por meio dos métodos da análise de variância, componentes principais e análise estrutural. O método de componentes principais com uso da matriz de covariância se mostrou o mais indicado para obtenção de estimativas de repetibilidade em sacha inchi devido ao comportamento cíclico da cultura. Genótipos superiores da espécie podem ser selecionados, com acurácia de 90%, a partir de 5 colheitas (meses) para os caracteres de produtividade. Para mesma acurácia, seria necessária a avaliação de no mínimo 5 e 25 frutos para determinação do peso médio de frutos e número de sementes por fruto, respectivamente, e de 39 sementes para avaliação dos caracteres biométricos.

Sacha Inchi (plukenetia volubilis Hnneo): ¿una experiencia ancestral desaprovechada? Evidencias clínicas asociadas a su consumo / Sacha Inchi (plukenetia volubilis linneo): a wasted ancestral experience? Clinical evidence related to its consumption

Sacha Inchi (Plukenetia volubilis L.) es una planta oleaginosa trepadora que crece en países como Perú, Bolivia y Colombia. Es una excelente fuente de ácidos grasos insaturados, fundamentalmente alfa linolénico (C18:3) y linoleico (C18:2), que representan aproximadamente 82% del contenido total del aceite. Sacha Inchi ha sido parte de la dieta de indígenas desde la antigüedad y es visto en la actualidad como un cultivo prometedor. Por su composición en ácidos grasos esenciales y su alto contenido en tocoferoles y antioxidantes, la recomendación de su consumo en la dieta habitual puede ser una estrategia encaminada a la prevención de enfermedades cardiovasculares en poblaciones de América Latina, en las que el consumo de aceite de oliva, reconocido por sus propiedades cardioprotectoras, es bajo. Este artículo tiene por objetivo hacer una revisión de la literatura publicada en relación con la inocuidad, aceptabilidad e impacto sobre la salud, del aceite de Sacha Inchi.

Sacha Inchi (Plukenetia volubilis L.) is an oleaginous climbing plant thatgrows in countries like Peru, Bolivia and Colombia. It is an excellent source of unsaturated fatty acids, mainly alpha lino-lenic (C18:3) and linoleic (C18:2), which represent approximately 82% of total oil content. Sacha Inchi has been part of the diet of native people of the region since ancient times and is seen as a promising crop today Due to its composition of essential fatty acids and its high content of antioxidants and tocopherols, the re-commendation of its consumption in the diet can be a strategy for the prevention of cardiovascular disease in populations of Latin America, as olive oil consumption known for its cardioprotective properties, is typically low in these populations. The aim of this article is to review the published literature regarding the safety, acceptability and health impact of Sacha Inchi oil.

One pot synthesis and characterization of gold nanocatalyst using Sacha inchi (Plukenetia volubilis) oil: Green approach.

In this report, a simple and cost-effective methodology has been developed to obtain gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) using Sacha inchi (Plukenetia volubilis) oil in the presence of sunlight. The spectroscopic and morphological properties of AuNPs were characterized by using UV-vis spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy (TEM), particle size analyzer, and X-ray diffraction (XRD). UV-vis and TEM reveal that the nanostructure of the gold particles has surfaced plasmon resonance at 515-520nm and is almost spherical in shape with an average size of 5-15nm. XRD studies confirmed the face cubic center (fcc) unit cell structure of AuNPs. The as-synthesized AuNPs showed remarkable photocatalytic decomposition of the methylene blue (>75%) without using any reducing agent and weak antioxidant activity (21-16%) against 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl at the different sunlight exposure times. The experimental approach is promising and suggested that the sunlight is a good source of energy for enhancement of AuNP synthesis via Sacha inchi oil and its photocatalytic activity.

Sacha Inchi Oil (Plukenetia volubilis L.), effect on adherence of Staphylococus aureus to human skin explant and keratinocytes in vitro.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Plukenetia volubilis L. (Euphorbiaceae) is a domesticated vine distributed from the high-altitude Andean rain forest to the lowlands of the Peruvian Amazon. Oil from the cold-pressed seeds, sold under the commercial name of Sacha Inchi Oil (SIO) is actually much in favour because it contains a high percentage of omega 3 and omega 6, and is hence used as a dietary supplement. SIO is also used traditionally for skin care, in order to maintain skin softness, and for the treatment of wounds, insect bites and skin infections, in a tropical context where the skin is frequently damaged. AIMS OF THE STUDY: This study was designed in order to verify whether the traditional use of SIO for skin care would have any impact on Staphylococcus aureus growth and skin adherence, as S. aureus is involved in many skin pathologies (impetigo, folliculitis, furuncles and subcutaneous abscesses) being one if the main pathogens that can be found on the skin. Therefore, our objective was to assess SIO bactericidal activity and interference with adherence to human skin explants and the keratinocyte cell line. Cytotoxicity on that cells was also determined. The activity of SIO was compared to coconut oil (CocO), which is widely used for skin care but has different unsaturated fatty acids contents. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Laboratory testing with certified oil, determined antibacterial activity against radio labelled S. aureus. Cytotoxic effects were measured with XTT on keratinocyte cells and with neutral red on human skin explants; phenol was used as cytotoxic control. Adherence assays were carried out by mixing H3-labelled S. aureus bacteria with keratinocyte cells and human skin explants, incubated with oils 2h before (to determine the inhibition of adherence, assimilated to a preventive effect) or 2h after the contact of the biological material with S. aureus (to assess the detachment of the bacteria, assimilated to a curative effect). Residual radioactivity measured after washings made it possible to determine the adherence intensity. Bactericidal effect was determined by colony counting on trypticase soy agar. RESULTS: Laboratory assays showed that SIO and CocO, tested undiluted, were not cytotoxic on keratinocytes nor human explants and were not bactericidal neither. SIO was more active as antiadherent (preventive) than CocO on keratinocytes. There was no significant difference between detachment effects (curative) of both oils on keratinocytes but SIO was almost 5 times more active on the detachment of S. aureus from human skin explants. CONCLUSION: From that study it can be concluded that the use of SIO on dermal cells is safe and efficient in the inhibition of S. aureus adherence. Our results tend to support the traditional use of undiluted SIO in skin care.

Synthesis of silver nanoparticles using Sacha inchi (Plukenetia volubilis L.) leaf extracts.

Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) are fabricated using Sacha inchi (SI) or (Plukenetia volubilis L.) leaf extract as non-toxic reducing agent with particle size ranging from 4 to 25 nm. Optical, structural and morphological properties of the synthesized nanoparticles have been characterized by using Visual, UV-Vis spectrophotometer, transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and dynamic light scattering (DLS) analysis. Selected area electron diffraction (SAED) confirmed the formation of metallic Ag. Infrared spectrum measurement was carried out to hypothesize the possible phytochemicals responsible for stabilization and capping of the AgNPs. It shows the significant antioxidant efficacy in comparison with SI leaf extracts against 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl. From the results obtained it is suggested that green AgNPs could be used effectively in future engineering and medical concerns.

COMPOSICIÓN DE ÁCIDOS GRASOS DE SACHA INCHI (Plukenetia volúbilis Linneo) Y SU RELACIÓN CON LA BIOACTIVIDAD DEL VEGETAL / FATTY ACID COMPOSITION OF INCA PEANUT (Plukenetia volúbilis Linneo) AND ITS RELATIONSHIP WITH VEGETAL BIOACTIVITY

Omega and unusual fatty acids were evaluated from ethanol extracts of roots and leaves ofPlukenetia volúbilis L. were evaluated. Seed oil was obtained by soxhlet and bioreactor; the fatty acids were determined and characterized by gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry (GLC-MS). Also, antioxidant activity was evaluated using ABTS/HRP enzymatic. Fatty acid in seed oil was beyond 80%. Meanwhile, the main unusually fatty acids in leaves and roots are ciclopropenic acids. The phytocompounds, omega and functional fatty acids could be responsible for the lipophilic antioxidant activity in leaves.

A partir de extractos etanólicos de hojas y raíces de Plukenetia volúbilis L, se evaluó la presencia de ácidos grasos omega (FAc) y funcionales. El aceite de las semillas de la planta, extraído por Soxhlet y a través de un biorreactor, fue caracterizado físicamente, se le determinó el perfil lipídico mediante cromatografía de gases acoplada a espectrometría de masas (CG-EM) y, se evaluó el potencial antioxidante (ABTS-HRP). El análisis dejó ver que el aceite del vegetal contiene ácidos grasos poliinsaturados en una proporción mayor al 80%. Los extractos de hojas y raíces mostraron principalmente ácidos de tipo ciclo-propénico. Tanto los fitocompuestos como los ácidos grasos omega y funcionales parecen estar asociados con la actividad antioxidante de las hojas.

Efecto del aceite de sacha inchi (plukenetia volúbilis l) sobre el perfil lipídico en pacientes con hiperlipoproteinemia / Effect of sacha inchi oil (plukenetia volúbilis l) on the lipid profile of patients with hyperlipoproteinemia

El presente es un trabajo experimental piloto, abierto, para conocer el efecto, dosis efectiva y efectos secundarios del aceite de sacha inchi (Plukenetia volúbilis L) en el perfil lipídico de pacientes con hipercolesterolemia; para ello, se incluyó a 24 pacientes de 35 a 75 años, en quienes se determinó los valores sanguíneos de colesterol total (CT), HDL, triglicéridos (Tg), glucosa, ácidos grasos no esterificados (AGNE) e insulina Se aleatorizó a los participantes para recibir 5 mL o 10 mL de una suspensión conteniendo 2gr/5ml de aceite de sacha inchi, durante cuatro meses. La ingesta del aceite produjo caída en los valores promedio del CT, y AGNE con elevación del c-HDL en ambos grupos. La dosis de 10 mL se asoció a mayores niveles de insulina en el grupo aleatorizado a recibir 10 ml. El aceite de sacha inchi parece tener efectos benéficos sobre el perfil lipídico en pacientes con dislipidemia, requiriéndose la evaluación de su eficacia y seguridad en ensayos clínicos aleatorizados.

We performed a pilot, experimental, open study in order to know the effect, effective dosage and secondary effects of sacha inchi´s (Plukenetia volúbilis L) oil on the lipid profiles of patients with hypercholesterolemia. We included 24 patients of ages 35 to 75, to whom we measured total cholesterol (TC), HDL, triglycerides (Tg), glucose (G), non-esterified fatty acids (NEFA) and insulin (I) levels in blood, then we randomized them to receive sacha inchi oil orally 5 ml or 10 ml of a suspension of sacha inchi oil (2gr/5ml) for four months. The oil intake produced a decrease in the mean values of TC, and NEFA, and a rise in HDL in both subgroups. The subgroup receiving 10 ml was associated to an increase in the insulin levels. Sacha inchi oil appears to have beneficial effects on the lipid profile of patients with dyslipidemia, but their efficacy and security should be evaluated in randomized clinical trials.