Central nervous system activity of the methanol extracts of Helianthus annuus seeds in mice model.

Helianthus annuus seeds contain various chemical components and evaluate different biological activities. The present study was carried out to investigate the central nervous system (CNS) activity of methanolic extract of Helianthus annuus seeds in mice model. General behaviour, antidepressant activity and anxiolytic activity was observed. The results revealed that the methanol extract of Helianthus annuus seeds at 100 and 200 mg/kg caused a significant increase in the spontaneous activity (general behavioural profile), moderate increase in anxiolytic activity (light-dark box and elevated plus maze test) and remarkable increase in antidepressant activity (tail suspension test). The results suggest that methanol extract of Helianthus annuus exhibit significant antidepressant and moderate anxiolytic activity in tested animal models.

Characterization of an alcoholic hepatic steatosis model induced by ethanol and high-fat diet in rats

Alcoholic liver disease is characterized by a wide spectrum of liver damage, which increases when ethanol is associated with high-fat diets (HFD). This work aimed to establish a model of alcoholic hepatic steatosis (AHS) by using a combination of 10% ethanol and sunflower seeds as the source of HFD. Male rats received water or 10% ethanol and regular chow diet and/or HFD, which consisted of sunflower seeds. The food consumption, liquid intake and body weight of the rats were monitored for 30 days. After this period, blood was collected for biochemical evaluation, and liver samples were collected for histological, mitochondrial enzyme activity and oxidative stress analyses. Our results indicated that the combination of 10% ethanol and HFD induced micro- and macrosteatosis and hepatocyte tumefaction, decreased the levels of reduced glutathione and glutathione S-transferase activity and increased the level of lipoperoxidation and superoxide dismutase activity. The mitochondrial oxidation of NADH and succinate were partially inhibited. Complexes I and II were the main inhibition sites. Hepatic steatosis was successfully induced after 4 weeks of the diet, and the liver function was modified. The combination of 10% ethanol and sunflower seeds as an HFD produced an inexpensive model to study AHS in rats.

Central nervous system activity of the methanol extracts of Helianthus annuus seeds in mice model.

Helianthus annuus seeds contain various chemical components and evaluate different biological activities. The present study was carried out to investigate the central nervous system (CNS) activity of methanolic extract of Helianthus annuus seeds in mice model. General behaviour, antidepressant activity and anxiolytic activity was observed. The results revealed that the methanol extract of Helianthus annuus seeds at 100 and 200 mg/kg caused a significant increase in the spontaneous activity (general behavioural profile), moderate increase in anxiolytic activity (light-dark box and elevated plus maze test) and remarkable increase in antidepressant activity (tail suspension test). The results suggest that methanol extract of Helianthus annuus exhibit significant antidepressant and moderate anxiolytic activity in tested animal models.

Therapeutic potential of sunflower seeds: An Overview.

Sunflower plant (Helianthus annuus) is a miraculous oil seed crop which is cultivated globally for its seeds. Sunflower seeds, a nutrient dense food has been found to have a potential role in chronic inflammatory conditions, bacterial and fungal infections, cardiovascular diseases, skin diseases and even cancers. These benefits of sunflower seeds are attributed to the presence of phytosterols, unsaturated fatty acids, proteins, variety of vitamins and minerals. Various studies have demonstrated the therapeutic usefulness of sunflower seeds in multiple clinical conditions. This article is to give an overview about wide array of uses of sunflower seeds and to enlighten the therapeutic potential of cheap , accessible and easily available oil seed crop – ‘Sunflower’ in human beings.

Fresh and matured lamb meat quality fed with sunflower seeds and vitamin E / Qualidade da carne in natura e maturada de cordeiros alimentados com grãos de girassol e vitamina E

The objective of the study is to evaluate meat quality from Ile de France lamb fed diets supplemented with sunflower seeds and vitamin E. Thirty-two lamb weighing initially 15kg were housed in individual stalls and slaughtered when body weight reached 32kg. The treatments consisted of four experimental diets: D1) sugarcane + concentrate without sunflower seeds; D2) sugarcane + concentrate with sunflower seeds; D3) sugarcane + concentrate without sunflower seeds plus 1000mg vitamin E kg-1 diet dry matter (DM); and D4) sugarcane + concentrate with sunflower seeds and 1000mg vitamin E kg-1 diet DM. The parameters temperature, pH, color, cooking loss, shear force and water holding capacity were determined at maturation times of 0, 7 and 14 days on the Longissimus dorsi muscle. Qualitative characteristics of the meat were not affected by the sunflower seed combined with vitamin E diet; however, pH 24 hours was affected (P<0.05) by the sunflower seed combined with vitamin E diet. Cooking loss was not significantly influenced (P>0.05) by diet or maturation times. On the other hand, shear force and water holding capacity were significantly affected (P<0.05) by the treatments. The use of vitamin E resulted in lamb meat with higher water holding capacity. Maturation time influenced the parameters pH, color and shear force. Lamb meat that matured for 7 days displayed the lowest shear force.

O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar a qualidade da carne de cordeiros Ile de France alimentados com dietas contendo grãos de girassol e vitamina E. Trinta e dois cordeiros pesando inicialmente 15kg foram alojados em baias individuais e abatidos ao atingir 32kg de peso corporal. Os tratamentos consistiram de quatro dietas experimentais: D1) cana-de-açúcar + concentrado sem grãos de girassol; D2) cana-de-açúcar + concentrado com grãos de girassol; D3) cana-de-açúcar + concentrado grãos de girassol, mais 1000mg de vitamina E kg-1 de matéria seca (MS) da dieta; e D4) cana-de-açúcar + concentrado com grãos de girassol e 1000mg de vitamina E dieta kg-1 de MS. Os parâmetros temperatura, pH, cor, perda de peso ao cozimento, força de cisalhamento e capacidade de retenção de água foram determinados nos tempos de maturação de 0, 7 e 14 dias no músculo Longissimus dorsi. As características qualitativas da carne não foram afetadas pelas dietas contendo grãos de girassol combinado com vitamina E, no entanto, pH 24 horas foi afetado (P<0,05) pela dieta contendo grãos de girassol com vitamina E. A perda de peso por cozimento não foi influenciada (P>0,05) pelos tempos de dieta ou de maturação, por outro lado, a força de cisalhamento e capacidade de retenção de água foi significativamente afetada (P<0,05). O uso da vitamina E resultou em carne com maior capacidade de retenção de água. O tempo de maturação influenciou nos parâmetros pH, cor e força de cisalhamento. Carne de cordeiro com 7 dias de maturação apresentou menor força de cisalhamento.