Renata Celi Lopes Toledo

Rice and Bean Targets for Biofortification Combined with High Carotenoid Content Crops Regulate Transcriptional Mechanisms Increasing Iron Bioavailability

Iron deficiency affects thousands of people worldwide. Biofortification of staple food crops aims to support the reduction of this deficiency. This study evaluates the effect of combinations of common beans and rice, targets for biofortification, with high carotenoid content crops on the iron bioavailability, protein gene expression, and antioxidant effect. Iron bioavailability was measured by the depletion/repletion method. Seven groups were tested (n = 7): Pontal bean (PB); rice + Pontal bean (R + BP); Pontal bean + sweet potato (PB + SP); Pontal bean + pumpkin (PB + P); Pontal bean + rice + sweet potato (PB + R + P); Pontal bean + rice + sweet potato (PB + R + SP); positive control (Ferrous Sulfate). The evaluations included: hemoglobin gain, hemoglobin regeneration efficiency (HRE), gene expression of divalente metal transporter 1 (DMT-1), duodenal citocromo B (DcytB), ferroportin, hephaestin, transferrin and ferritin and total plasma antioxidant capacity (TAC). The test groups, except the PB, showed higher HRE (p < 0.05) than the control. Gene expression of DMT-1, DcytB and ferroportin increased (p < 0.05) in the groups fed with high content carotenoid crops (sweet potato or pumpkin). The PB group presented lower (p < 0.05) TAC than the other groups. The combination of rice and common beans, and those with high carotenoid content crops increased protein gene expression, increasing the iron bioavailability and antioxidant capacity.

Evaluation of the health benefits of consumption of extruded tannin sorghum with unfermented probiotic milk in individuals with chronic kidney disease

This study investigated the chemical and nutritional composition of breakfast cereal based on whole sorghum, and the effect of its association with unfermented probiotic milk on the inflammation and oxidative stress of individuals with chronic kidney disease. Extruded sorghum breakfast meal presented higher carbohydrate concentration (approximately 71%), followed by protein (approximately 11%) and lipid (approximately 0.4%). When compared to extruded maize breakfast meal, it presented higher percentage of dietary fiber (p < 0.05), and higher content of phenolic compounds and tannin, consequently higher antioxidant activity (p < 0.05). Extruded sorghum breakfast cereal combined with unfermented probiotic milk decreased the C-reactive protein (p < 0.05) and malondialdehyde (p < 0.05) serum levels and increased the total antioxidant capacity and superoxide dismutase (p < 0.05) in patients with chronic kidney disease. Therefore, the extruded sorghum, source of tannin, anthocyanin, and dietary fiber, when consumed with unfermented probiotic milk alleviates the inflammation and oxidative stress in patients with chronic kidney disease.

Anti-obesity effects of tea from Mangifera indica L. leaves of the Ubá variety in high-fat diet-induced obese rats

Due to the high content of bioactive compounds, herbal teas are being investigated as adjuvant in chronic disease management. Studies have shown that mango leaf tea contain mangiferin, total phenolics and antioxidants, compounds with many functional properties. Therefore, this study aims to evaluate the anti-obesity effects of tea from Mangifera indica L. leaves, Ubá variety (TML), in obese rats fed a high-fat diet (HFD). For this, adult male Wistar rats were divided into three groups (n=8): the control group (fed AIN-93 diet), obese group (fed a HFD) and treated group (fed a HFD and supplemented with TML for 8 weeks). We analysed biometric measures and serum biochemical parameters of metabolic control, inflammation and oxidative stress biomarkers, histomorphometry of visceral adipose tissue and mRNA expression of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma co-activator 1 alpha (PPAR-γ), lipoprotein lipase (LPL) and fatty acid synthase (FAS). The consumption of TML (24.7±2.1mL/day) exerted antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects, increasing total antioxidant capacity and interleukin-10 serum concentrations, reduced abdominal fat accumulation, upregulated PPAR-γ and LPL and downregulated FAS expression. Our data suggest that TML has therapeutic potential in treating obesity and related diseases through regulating the expression of transcriptional factors and enzymes associated with adipogenesis.

A high fat diet does not affect the iron bioavailability in Wistar rats fed with chia and increases gene expression of iron metabolism proteins

This study evaluated the effect of chia on the iron bioavailability and gene expression of proteins involved in iron metabolism in animals fed with a high fat diet and a standard diet. Four experimental groups were tested (n = 8): standard diet + ferrous sulfate (SD + FS), standard diet + chia (SD + C), high fat diet + ferrous sulfate (HFD + FS), high fat diet + chia (HFD + C). The hemoglobin gain, hemoglobin regeneration efficiency, biological relative value of HRE, serum ferritin and transferrin, liver iron concentration and gene expression of proteins were evaluated. The SD + C group showed lower transferrin expression when compared to the control group. The control group showed serum transferrin concentration higher than the other groups. Serum ferritin and liver iron concentration did not differ among the animals that received chia ferritin and hephaestin expression was lower in experimental groups when compared with the control group. The peroxisome proliferator activated receptor expression was higher in animals fed with SD + C than in the control group. The expression of duodenal cytochrome B and divalent metal transporter 1 in the HFD + C group was higher and ferroportin was lower in the groups containing chia. Animals fed with chia showed similar iron bioavailability compared to animals fed with ferrous sulfate.

Extruded sorghum (Sorghum bicolor L.) reduces metabolic risk of hepatic steatosis in obese rats consuming a high fat diet

The study investigated the effect of extruded sorghum flour (ESF) in a high fat diet (HFD) on biometric measurements and hepatic lipogenesis. Male Wistar rats were fed a normal diet (AIN-93M), HFD, HFD plus ESF replacing 50% cellulose and 100% corn starch (HFDS50), or HFD plus ESF replacing 100% cellulose and 100% corn starch (HFDS100) for eight weeks. ESF reduced the body mass index and liver weight of obese rats. Additionally, ESF reduced hepatic lipogenesis by increasing adiponectin 2 receptor gene expression and gene and protein expressions of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor α (PPARα), while reducing the gene expression of sterol regulatory element-binding transcription factor 1. Molecular docking analysis revealed the affinity of ESF compounds (luteolinidin, apigeninidin, 5-methoxy-luteolinidin, and 7-methoxy-apigeninidin) with the PPAR-α receptor. Histological analysis confirmed the decreased grade of hepatic steatosis in obese rats. These data indicate the potential of ESF to reduce metabolic risk of hepatic steatosis associated with lipogenesis and obesity.

Bacupari peel extracts (Garcinia brasiliensis) reduces the biometry, lipogenesis and hepatic steatosis in obese rats

The aim was to evaluate the effect of the ethanol extract of bacupari peel (EEB) on biometric measurements, hepatic lipogenesis and progression of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) in obese Wistar rats. Chemical analysis of the bacupari peel extract identified 7-epiclusianone as the major constituent (140.02 mg/g) followed by morelloflavone (35.86 mg/g). Animals treated with high fat diet plus EEB (BHFD) reduced body mass index (BMI), liver weight and hepatosomatic index in relation to the obese control. The food intake was similar between hyperlipid group (HFD) groups with or without EEB. However, the normal control group (AIN-93 M) presented higher food intake and lower final weight compared to the obese control (HFD). The PPAR-α, CPT-1a and the ADIPOR2 genes expressions, and the concentration of the PPAR-α and the adiponectin protein level increased in the BHFD group in relation to the obese control. The EEB promoted reduction of the SREBP-1c gene expression and the percentage of hepatic fat and the degree of steatosis in relation to HFD. It was concluded that EEB showed a protective effect on NAFLD, as it promoted a reduction in BMI, induced lipid oxidation, reduced lipogenesis and hepatic steatosis. Moreover, our results suggest an interaction that can lead to an agonist activity of the EEB to the PPAR-α receptor.

Effects of chia (Salvia hispanica L.) on calcium bioavailability and inflammation in Wistar rats

Chia is a good source of calcium, however it is not been previously reported its bioavailability associated with an inflammatory condition. Thus, the present study evaluated the effect of chia on calcium bioavailability, inflammation, and oxidative stress in Wistar rats fed a high-fat diet or standard diet for 35 days. Chia consumption resulted in lower calcium balance and calcium absorption and retention rates. In addition, the urinary calcium concentration was lower in groups that were fed chia. The bone resistance of animals feed chia was lower than that in rats fed the standard diet receiving calcium carbonate. Animals that were fed chia showed lower total, very low-density lipoprotein, and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels than animalsfed calcium carbonate. Animals fed standard diet showed higher superoxide dismutase plasma concentrations than animals in the high fat calcium carbonate group. PPAR-α protein levels were higher in animals fed chia whereas TNF-α and IL-10 were lower in these animals. NFκB mRNA expression and protein levels were lower in the groups that received chia compared with HFD + CC. Chia intake presented low calcium bioavailability regardless of the type of diet consumed and was able to improved inflammation and the lipid profile in young Wistar rat. Besides this, the consumption of this seed increased the activity of antioxidants enzymes.

Sapucaia nuts ( Lecythis pisonis ) modulate the hepatic inflammatory and antioxidant metabolism activity in rats fed high-fat diets

Lecythis pisonis Cambess is commonly known as “sapucaia” nut. Previous studies show that it is rich in unsaturated fatty acids and in antioxidant minerals. The aim of the present study was to assess the antioxidant and anti-inflamatory effects of this nut after its introduction into a control (AIN-93G) or high-fat diet in Wistar rats. The animals were divided into four groups: a control diet, the same control diet supplemented with sapucaia nuts, a high-fat diet or the high-fat diet supplemented with sapucaia nuts and were fed with these diets for 14 or 28 days. The gene expression of the markers tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α NFκB (p65) zinc superoxide dismutase (ZnSOD) and heat shock protein 72 (HSP72) was determined by the chain reaction to the quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (q-PCR). The antioxidant activity was also measured as thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) through the activity of the SOD enzyme. The groups treated with “sapucaia” nuts presented reduced lipid peroxidation values and increased ZnSOD and HSP72 gene expression, as well as decreased TNF-α and NFκB (p65) gene expression levels. The significant results showed that “sapucaia” could serve as a potential source of antioxidants and as a protector agent for the examined animals. Key words: Sapucaia nuts, inflammation, oxidative stress, gene expression.