Evaluation of the toxicity and hypoglycemic effect of the aqueous extracts of Cnidoscolus quercifolius Pohl

Diabetes mellitus is one of the most common chronic degenerative diseases, and it is estimated to increase worldwide to around 415 million and to impact 642 million in 2040. Research shows that some plants are sources of bioactive compounds against diabetes. Thus, the objective of this work was to evaluate the oral toxicity and the hypoglycemic effect of the aqueous extract of the leaves of Cnidoscolus quercifolius Pohl. Diabetes was induced in Swiss mice with streptozotocin and the mice were treated with an aqueous extract of C. quercifolius leaves for a period of 30 days. Phytochemical analysis showed that the extract was rich in flavonoids, catechins and triterpenoid, which did not show any mortality and behavioral alterations in mice treated with 200, 1000, and 2000 mg/kg body weight of the extract for 14 days. Histopathological analysis of organs (kidney, pancreas, liver) from mice treated with the 2000 mg/kg extract revealed no architectural change. In the present study, we found a 29% reduction in glucose levels in animals receiving 200 mg/kg body weight. These results are very promising because they showed that C. quercifolius had a hypoglycemic effect and did not present oral toxicity, thus being a new source of compounds for the control of diabetes.

Análise das proteínas e estudo reológico dos isolados proteicos das amêndoas da faveleira (Cnidosculus phyllacanthus (Mart.) Pax. et K. Hoffm.) com e sem espinhos / Analysis on rheological properties of proteins isolated from nuts from faveleira trees (Cnidosculus phyllacanthus (Mart.) Pax. et K. Hoffm.) with and without thorns

A faveleira possui amêndoas com potencial em óleos e proteínas alimentares e é encontrada no Nordeste brasileiro, principalmente nas regiões do sertão e caatinga. As proteínas contidas nas amêndoas das variedades da faveleira com (FCE) e sem (FSE) espinhos foram isoladas, classificadas e estudadas quanto à viscosidade para o seu possível uso como alternativo ingrediente alimentar. As sementes de ambas variedades apresentaram elevadas concentrações proteicas com, respectivamente, 26,20% e 30,70%. Quando desengorduradas, estas passaram a 57,55 e 63,00%. A fração de globulina apresentou-se mais expressiva (63,37 e 63,91%). O isolado proteico apresentou teores de proteínas solúveis de 81,08% e 90,02%. Quando analisadas por eletroforese, apareceram quatro subunidades na faixa de PM de 40,8 a 20,2 kDa para a amêndoa da FCE e sete subunidades na faixa de 60,5 a 21,1 kDa para a da FSE. Quanto à viscosidade, foram analisadas as concentrações de 1, 3, 5 e 7% de isolado proteico e observou-se uma relação de dependência positiva da viscosidade com a concentração de proteína. O isolado proteico da FSE mostrou maior viscosidade que a de FCE. Como a faveleira possui alto teor de proteína, independentemente da sua variedade, sugere-se a sua possível utilização como ingrediente em formulações alimentícias.

Faveleira grows throughout the caatinga biosphere in the Brazilian Northeast region. Its nuts contain potential nourishing oils and proteins. The proteins in nuts from faveleira with (FWT) and without thorns (FWOT) were classified, and the proteins viscosity was analyzed at different conditions and concentrations; also itsuse as an alternative food ingredient was evaluated. The nuts from both varieties of faveleira showed anelevated protein concentration of 26.2 and 30.70%, respectively; after removing the fat matter, the proteinscontents turned 57.5 and 63.0%, respectively. The protein classification according to its solubility wasperformed in defatted nuts, and the globulin fraction exhibited meaningful concentrations (63.3 and 63.9%,respectively). The nut of both faveleira varieties showed 81.0 and 90.0% of soluble proteins, respectively. By electrophoresis, the nuts from FWT showed four protein sub-units with MW ranging from 20.2 to 40.8 kDa, and seven protein sub-units ranging from 21.1 to 60.5 kDa in nuts from FWOT. Protein solutions at 1, 3, 5 e 7% were analyzed on viscosity, and a positive dependence correlation between viscosity and protein concentration was observed. The proteins in nuts from FWT showed higher viscosity than thosefrom FWOT. Owing to the high protein concentration, the faveleira’s nuts might be used in food formulas.

Efeito da inclusão de fontes lipídicas na dieta de cabras em lactação sobre os parâmetros sanguíneos / Effect of fat source inclusion in the diet of lactating goats

Conduziu-se o estudo do perfil metabólico, com o objetivo de avaliar o estado nutricional ou possíveis distúrbios metabólicos que podem comprometer a saúde e, consequentemente, o desempenho do rebanho. No presente trabalho foi avaliado o perfil metabólico de cabras em lactação, submetidas a dietas com diferentes fontes de lipídios. Foram utilizadas 16 cabras da raça Saanen com peso vivo médio de 35 Kg e produção média diária de 1,2 kg de leite, distribuídas em quadrado latino com três repetições. Os tratamentos experimentais consistiram nas seguintes dietas: sem suplementação lipidica (TC); semente de faveleira (SF); torta de faveleira (TF) e caroço de algodão (CA). O experimento foi desenvolvido em quatro períodos experimentais de 14 dias, sendo 10 dias de adaptação à dieta e quatro dias de coleta de dados. No último dia de cada período foram coletadas amostras de sangue. A inclusão de semente de oleaginosa na dieta de cabras em lactação diminuiu o consumo de matéria seca por unidade metabólica (CMSU) e consumo de proteína bruta por unidade metabólica (CPBU). Dentre os quatro tratamentos não se observou diferença significativa no que se refere à concentração sérica de uréia, creatinina, GGT (gama glutamiltransferase), cálcio, fósforo, magnésio e glicose. Os níveis séricos de albumina dos animais que receberam TF foram maiores (P<0,05) do que os animais do grupo controle. Este trabalho sugere que as fontes de oleaginosas podem ser utilizadas na suplementação lipídica de cabras Saanen em lactação, entretanto animais alimentados com TF apresentaram um perfil metabólico mais saudável em função da suplementação lipídica.

The study of the metabolic profile has as objective to evaluate the nutritional status or possible metabolic disturbances that can damage the health and consequently the herd performance. In this work, the metabolic profile of lactating goats was evaluated, submitted to diets with different fat sources. 12 Saanen goats with BW of 35 kg and daily milk production of 1,2 kg were used, distributed into a Latin square with three repetitions. The diet comprised, without fat supplementation, TC (control) and with fat supplementation: SF (favelone seed); TF (favelone cake) and CA (cotton seed).The experiment was developed in four experimental periods of 14 days, with 10 days of adaptation to diets and four days for samples collection. In the last day of each period were collected blood samples. The inclusion of oleaginous seed into the lactating goats' diet decreased the dry matter consumption for metabolic unit (CMU) and consumption of crude protein for metabolic unit (CPMU). No significant differences in serum urea, creatinine, GGT (gamma glutamyltransferase), calcium, phosphorus, magnesium or glucose values were noticed in any of the four treatments. The serum levels of albumin in the animals that received TF were higher (P<0.05) than the animals of the control group. This work suggests that the oleaginous sources can be used as fat supplementation of lactating Saanen goats; however, animals fed the TF showed a healthier metabolic profile due to the fat supplement.