Pilosocereus gounellei (Cactaceae) stem extract decreases insulin resistance, inflammation, oxidative stress, and cardio-metabolic risk in diet-induced obese mice.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Pilosocereus gounellei (xique-xique) is a popular cactus from Caatinga, traditionally used to counter inflammatory processes and indicated as a hypoglycemic agent. Previous studies have shown that mice treated orally with saline extract of P. gounellei stem (containing flavonoids and sugars) showed decreased serum lipid levels. AIM OF THE STUDY: In this work, we evaluated whether this extract would have beneficial effects against hyperglycemia and inflammatory status related to obesity in mice fed a high-fat diet (HFD). METHODS: Obese animals were treated daily per os with the extract (EXT; 125, 250, and 500 mg/kg), metformin (MET; 400 mg/kg), or saline solution (diet-induced obese, DIO) for 21 days. A group of non-obese animals served as the control. We evaluated lipid profile, glucose and insulin tolerance, atherogenic indices, histological alterations, cytokine levels, and oxidative stress in liver, muscle, and adipose tissue. RESULTS: At the end of the experiment, mice from EXT groups showed lower body weight and total cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol, and triglycerides compared with the DIO group; in addition, HDL-cholesterol levels and glucose and insulin tolerance were similar to those of the control group. When compared with the DIO group, the extract-treated mice showed reduction in cardiac risk ratio, atherogenic coefficient, atherogenic index of plasma, and Castelli's Risk Index II; decrease in epididymal fat; reduction in steatosis, collagen deposition, and liver inflammation; lower serum levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines (tumor necrosis factor α, interleukin 6, and monocyte chemoattractant protein-1); inhibited lipid peroxidation; and increased superoxide dismutase levels in liver, muscle, and adipose tissue. CONCLUSION: The P. gounellei saline extract was able to improve physiological parameters of obese mice, which highlight the potential of this plant as source of compounds with biotechnological relevance for pharmaceutical industry.

Mucilages of cacti from Brazilian biodiversity: Extraction, physicochemical and technological properties.

Brazilian cacti have the high potential to be used as a source of mucilages with different technological functions that can be widely explored. The physicochemical, structural and technological properties of mucilages extracted from seven cladodes of cacti native from the semi-arid region of the Brazil were investigated. The mucilages exhibited high yields (8.9 to 21.54%), high contents of carbohydrates (39.77 to 87.68%), proteins (4.27 to 14.76%), and minerals, specifically Ca (2.90 to 15.65%). All species evaluated presented a diverse monosaccharide composition, mainly constituted of galactose and arabinose, suggesting the presence of arabinogalactans as the main polysaccharides. Both showed peaks and bands characteristic of polysaccharides with semi-crystalline structure (14.50-38.60%), due to the high concentration of calcium. From the results, mucilages functional properties showed good water and oil retention capacities and a high emulsification capacity (100%) with stability above 83%. Foaming capacity was above 58% with stability greater than 95%. This study highlights the potential of using cacti as a source of functional mucilages for use in food applications.

Selection of Lactic Acid Bacteria with In Vitro Probiotic-Related Characteristics from the Cactus Pilosocereus gounellei (A. Weber ex. K. Schum.) Bly. ex Rowl.

Pilosocereus gounellei (A. Weber ex. K. Schum.) Bly. ex Rowl., popularly known as xique-xique, is a cactus from the Caatinga biome, which is rich in bioactive compounds but has not been previously studied as a source of lactic acid bacteria (LAB) with probiotic aptitudes. This study aimed to identify, characterize, and select LAB isolates with in vitro probiotic-related characteristics from xique-xique cladodes and fruit. Isolates with the most promising probiotic-related characteristics were evaluated regarding their in vitro technological properties and capability of surviving in chestnut milk, whey protein drink, and mate tea with mint during 21 days of refrigeration storage. Seventeen recovered isolates had typical characteristics of LAB. Six out of these seventeen LAB isolates passed the safety tests and were included in experiments to evaluate the in vitro probiotic-related characteristics. Based on the results of a principal component analysis, the isolates 69, 82, 98, and 108 had the best performances in experiments to evaluate the probiotic-related characteristics. In addition to showing good technological properties, the four selected LAB isolates had high viable counts (>7.3 log cfu/mL) and high sizes of physiologically active cell subpopulations in chestnut milk, whey protein drink, and mate tea during refrigeration storage. These four isolates were identified by 16S-rRNA sequencing as being Lacticaseibacillus paracasei or Lacticaseibacillus casei. The results indicate xique-xique as a source of potentially probiotic LAB isolates.

Assessment of 28-day oral toxicity and antipyretic activity of the saline extract from Pilosocereus gounellei (Cactaceae) stem in mice.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Pilosocereus gounellei is a plant found in the Brazilian Caatinga and is popular due to its traditional uses in the treatment of inflammation. The present study was conducted to investigate the sub-acute toxicity of the saline extract from the stem of P. gounellei. AIM OF THE STUDY: To evaluate the 28-day oral toxicity (through behavioral, biochemical, hematological, and morphological analysis) and the antipyretic activity of the extract in mice. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A single oral dose (250, 500, and 1000 mg/kg) was administered daily over 28 consecutive days to male and female mice. Body weight, food and water intake, blood biochemical and hematological parameters, and urine composition were recorded. Histopathological examinations of the liver, kidney, spleen, lungs, and heart were performed and oxidative stress in the organs was evaluated by lipid peroxidation, superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), and nitrite analysis. The antipyretic effect of the 500 mg/kg dose was assessed using a yeast-induced pyrexia model. RESULTS: Oral administration of the extract over 28 days did not affect body weight gain, food and water consumption, body temperature, and hematological parameters in male and female mice. Blood glucose, total cholesterol, and triglyceride levels in male and female mice were reduced. Protein in the urine and histological alterations in both the liver and lungs were detected in male and female mice treated with the highest dose of the extract. SOD levels in the liver and the spleen increased significantly in both sexes, whereas lipid peroxidation decreased in the spleen of male mice. The extract also exerted an antipyretic effect after the first 60 min of the evaluation until the end of the observation duration (180 min). CONCLUSION: The saline extract from the stem of P. gounellei did not present significant toxic effects over 28 consecutive days and demonstrated antipyretic activity when administered orally. Moreover, the results suggest that the extract has potential hypoglycemic and hypolipidemic effects. Future studies are needed to investigate its pharmacological potential.