Cíntia Reis Ballard

The aim of this study was to investigate the chemical composition, antimicrobial, and antioxidant activities of Curcuma longa and Bixa orellana ethanolic extracts in the search for alternatives to synthetic additives used in the food industry. Mass spectrometry (GC-MS) identified bisdemethoxycurcumin, desmethoxycurcumin, and curcumin in C. longa extract and prunin and naringenin in B. orellana extract. C. longa extract showed antimicrobial activity against Clostridium sporogenes and Staphylococcus aureus. None of the extracts showed bactericidal activity against Escherichia coli and Salmonella Typhimurium. The antioxidant activity of the extracts was evidenced by ferric reducing antioxidant power and oxygen radical absorbance capacity assays. B. orellana extract had higher antioxidant activity by ferric reducing antioxidant power and oxygen radical absorbance capacity than C. longa extract. The biological effects of C. longa and B. orellana ethanolic extracts showed their potential use as an alternative to synthetic additives for the food industry.

Background: Tarumã-do-Cerrado (Vitex cymosa Bertero ex Spreng, TC) is a littleexplored Brazilian native fruit. Objective: The sustainable bioprospecting of new fruits is essential to devise strategies for preventing and treating noncommunicable diseases, like obesity, and even contribute to food diversity and discovering functional ingredients. Methods: This study evaluated the proximate composition, minerals, dietary fiber, and their fractions, phenolic compounds by two types of extraction, and antioxidant activity in the TC edible part. We also determined its fatty acid profile from the seed’s crude oil. Results: TC has 100 g low-fat content (0.19 g) containing good phosphorus (91.50 mg) source and is rich in chromium (0.05 mg) and molybdenum (0.53 mg). It has a high range of dietary fiber in fresh and freeze-dried fruit (4.01 g and 26.23 g, respectively). The different extraction conditions showed medium to high content (101.58 to 598.80 µg GAE/100 g) of phenolic compounds. Antioxidant activity has been demonstrated in vitro using electron or hydrogen/proton transfer mechanisms. The crude oilseed is a source of oleic (35.91%) and linoleic acid (32.20%). Conclusion: TC provides essential nutrients, fibers, and bioactive compounds to be allied to sustainable health strategies for food diversity and nutraceutical product development.

Nutritional interventions have been shown to be an interesting approach for the treatment of chronic diseases, including inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Persea americana Mill. (avocado), is a potential food to be used for the prevention or treatment of intestinal inflammation, due to its nutritional value and pharmacological effects. In this study we evaluated if the dietary intervention with avocado fruit pulp could as an intestinal anti-inflammatory diet using a trinitrobenzenesulfonic acid (TNBS) model of intestinal inflammation in rats. For this purpose, 5, 10 or 20% of avocado fruit pulp was incorporated in the diet of rats, for 21 days before and 7 days after TNBS-induced intestinal inflammation. Dietary intervention with avocado fruit pulp (20%) decreased the extension of colonic lesions (1.38 ± 0.99 vs. 2.67 ± 0.76 cm), weight/length colon ratio (151.03 ± 31.45 vs. 197.39 ± 49.48 cm), inhibited myeloperoxidase activity (891.2 ± 243.2 vs 1603 ± 158.2 U/g), reduced tumor necrosis factor-α (53.94 ± 6.45 vs. 114.9 ± 6.21 pg/mg), interleukin-1β (583.6 ± 106.2 vs. 1259 ± 81.68 pg/mg) and interferon gamma (27.95 ± 2.97 vs. 47.79 ± 3.51 pg/mg) levels and prevented colonic glutathione depletion (2585 ± 77.2 vs 1778 ± 167.2 nmol/g). The consumption of enriched diet with 20% avocado pulp by 28 days did not promote any alterations in the biochemical or behavioral parameters evaluated. Avocado showed intestinal anti-inflammatory activity, modulating immune response, and acting as antioxidant. The dietary intervention with avocado was safe, suggesting its potential as a complementary treatment in intestinal inflammation.

Consumption of polyphenol-rich food is associated with better metabolic health. Tucum-do-Pantanal (Bactris setosa Mart) and taruma-do-cerrado (Vitex cymosa Bertero ex Spreng) are underexploited native Brazilian fruits with an important source of phytochemicals. In this study, we assessed the effects of 100 mg kg⁻¹ tucum (TPE) and taruma (TCE) extracts on diet-induced obesity (DIO) C57BL/6J mice. After 8 weeks of daily treatment, TPE and TCE were found to significantly prevented the diet-induced body weight gain and fully protected against hepatic steatosis associated with a tendency to stimulate hepatic AMPK phosphorylation. TPE reduced visceral obesity and improved glucose metabolism as revealed by an improvement of the insulin tolerance test, a reduction in the insulin fasting level, and a decreased glucose-induced hyperinsulinemia during an oral glucose tolerance test. TPE and TCE showed promising effects on the treatment of obesity and NAFLD, furthermore, TPE on insulin resistance.

Background:: Obesity is a complex condition of high prevalence and cost to the public health system. Recent research has demonstrated the potential of natural products, such as polyphenol-rich fruit extracts, for use in the treatment of obesity. The goal of this systematic review and meta-analysis is to determine the metabolic effects of polyphenol-rich fruit extracts on diet-induced obesity (DIO) in rodents.Methods: We searched MEDLINE, EMBASE, and Web of Science databases to identify preclinical studies that assessed polyphenol-rich fruit extracts compared to placebo on DIO in rodents in December 2018. Two researchers selected the studies, extracted the data, and assessed the quality of studies. Meta-analyses of standardized mean difference (SMD) of outcomes were calculated in Stata 11, and causes of heterogeneity were assessed by meta-regression.Results: We included 14 studies in the systematic review and 13 studies with 21 matched groups in the metaanalysis. Polyphenol-rich fruit extracts reduced the total body weight gain (SMD = -1.48; confidence interval: - 1.95, -1.01), energy intake (SMD = -0.42; -0.67, -0.17), visceral adipose tissue (SMD = -0.96; -1.25, -0.66), triglycerides (SMD = -1.00; -1.39, -0.62), cholesterol (SMD = -1.18, -1.66, -0.69), LDL- c (SMD = -1.15; -1.65, - 0.65), fasting glucose (SMD = -1.05; -1.65, -0.46), and fasting insulin (SMD = -1.40; -1.80, -1.00) when compared to vehicle.Conclusion: Polyphenol-rich fruit extract had positive effects on weight gain, dyslipidaemia, insulin resistance at different doses, and fruit source in male mice.