ABSTRACT
Introducción: la yerba mate (Ilex paraguariensis) constituye un recurso alimentario autóctono, formando parte de la tradición y cultura alimentaria del Paraguay. Sin embargo, existen pocos estudios locales sobre los hábitos de consumo y preferencias por los paraguayos. Objetivo: describir los hábitos de consumo de la yerba mate (Ilex paraguariensis) en el Departamento Central en el 2022. Metodología: estudio descriptivo, transversal, con datos primarios, realizado en el Departamento Central de Paraguay. Muestreo no probabilístico en racimos. Instrumento de elaboración propia, diseñado como encuesta digital en la plataforma Google Form® (EE.UU.). Las variables fueron agrupadas en datos demográficos, relacionados al consumo de mate, tereré y cocido, procesados en Microsoft Excel® (EE.UU.) y EPI INFO® 7.0 (EE.UU.). Resultados: participaron 207 personas, la mayoría contaban entre 18 a 40 años, sexo femenino (83,22 %, 119), solteros, universitarios. El consumo más frecuente fue mate+ tereré+ cocido (43,96 %, 91) y tereré + cocido (14,01 %, 29). Todos los encuestados percibían más de dos salarios mínimos, y eran trabajadores de tiempo completo. El 81,64 % (169) consumían tereré, 69,08 % (143) mate, 80,23 % (138) cocido. El tipo de yerba más consumido fue la "compuesta con hierbas medicinales", con un promedio de 1,5 Litros diarios. Conclusión: las formas más consumidas son tereré, cocido y mate, el tipo de yerba es la compuesta con el agregado de hierbas medicinales. Se sugieren realizar estudios poblacionales más amplios sobre el consumo de bebidas a base de yerba mate en Paraguay, así como ampliar estudios sobre las posibles interacciones e inocuidad entre la yerba mate con hierbas medicinales.
Introduction: yerba mate (Ilex paraguariensis) constitutes a native food resource, forming part of the food tradition and culture of Paraguay. However, there are few local studies on the consumption habits and preferences of Paraguayans. Objective: to describe the consumption habits of yerba mate (Ilex paraguariensis) in the Departamento Central in 2022. Methodology: descriptive, cross-sectional study, with primary data, carried out in the Departamento Central of Paraguay. Non-probability cluster sampling. Self-developed instrument, designed as a digital survey on the Google Form® platform (USA). The variables were grouped into demographic data, related to the consumption of mate, tereré and cocido, processed in Microsoft Excel® (USA) and EPI INFO® 7.0 (USA). Results: people participated was 207, the majority were between 18 and 40 years old, female (83.22 %, 119), single, university students. The most frequent consumption was mate + tereré + cooked (43.96 %, 91) and tereré + cooked (14.01 %, 29). All respondents received more than two minimum wages, and were full-time workers. 81.64 % (169) consumed tereré, 69.08 % (143) consumed mate, 80.23 % (138) cooked. The most consumed type of herb was "composed with medicinal herbs", with an average of 1.5 Liters per day. Conclusion: the most consumed forms are tereré, cooked and mate, the type of yerba is the one composed with the addition of medicinal herbs. It is suggested to carry out larger population studies on the consumption of yerba mate-based drinks in Paraguay, as well as expand studies on the possible interactions and safety between yerba mate and medicinal herbs.
ABSTRACT
The nutritional composition and toxicity of native plants with food potential like Capsicum chacoense are important for the safe use of populations and could be used as a source for searching for new drug candidates. Infections produced by parasites such as helminths are a public health concern for many countries. The drugs used for treating these diseases are few, and the emergence of resistance is a risk. In this work, the nutritional composition, acute toxicity, antioxidant activity, and anthelmintic activity of crushed C. chacoense fruits were evaluated. The composition was analyzed by standard procedures. Antioxidant activity was evaluated using the ABTS radical and the total phenolic compound (TPC) tests. The toxicity was evaluated on Swiss albino mice by the single-DL50-dose procedure. The anthelmintic activity was tested against Eisenia foetida. The samples presented high levels of dietary fiber (47.05-49.19 g/100 g), proteins (14.43-15.60 g/100 g), and potassium (1708-1733 mg/100 g). In the samples, the absence of acute lethal effects in doses lower than 2000 mg/kg was observed. A rich composition of TPC (517.26-543.32 mg GAE/100 g sample), total carotenoids (125.72-239.57 mg/kg), ß-carotene (3.29-5.60 mg/kg), and good TAC was observed (154-158 mM TEAC/g SMTC). The methanolic extracts at the doses tested (2.5 to 40 mg/mL) showed good anthelmintic activity. The presence of alkaloids was demonstrated in the methanolic extract, consistent with the levels of capsaicin (131.85 and 98.80 mg/100 g) and dihydrocapsaicin (80.75 and 63.68 mg/100 g), with significant statistical differences between samples (p < 0.05). These results show that through the chemical composition of this underutilized native resource and good fruit processing procedures, the C. chacoense fruits have a great nutraceutical potential of interest for the food and pharmaceutical industries.
ABSTRACT
The "Kurugua" (Sicana odorifera) is a native fruit that demonstrates attractive nutritional, coloring, flavoring, and antioxidant properties. The main by-products from the processing and consumption of kurugua fruit are epicarp and seeds. In this work, the properties of the seeds of S. odorifera were evaluated. The nutritional composition of the fruit seeds was determined through AOAC official methods and UHPLC-ESI-MS/MS profiling. The antioxidant activities were determined using in vitro methods, and the acute toxicity and hepatoprotective properties were investigated in Swiss albino mice. Quercetin derivatives and cucurbitacins were the main phytochemicals in the seeds' methanolic extract and demonstrated some biological activities. GC-MS analysis revealed the essential fatty acids linolenic and linoleic as the main compounds present in seeds oil. The methanolic extract significantly reduced the serum levels of glutamic-pyruvic transaminase (GPT) and glutamic-oxaloacetic transaminase (GOT) in mice with induced hepatotoxicity (GPT p < 0.05; GOT p < 0.001) at the minor concentration tested (100 mg/kg EMSo). The results suggest that the S. odorifera seeds as by-products show potential use as a source of phytochemicals and in the production of oils with application in food supplements and nutraceuticals. Their integral use could contribute to waste reduction from kurugua fruits processing within the food safety and environmental sustainability framework.
ABSTRACT
Los lípidos de los alimentos cumplen un papel fundamental en nutrición humana. Con base en los potenciales efectos perjudiciales para la salud de las dietas altas en ácidos grasos trans (AGT) y la necesidad de contar con información sobre los niveles en alimentos de consumo local, se han investigado el contenido de AGT por espectrometría infrarroja, grasas totales y el porcentaje de AGT con respecto a lípidos totales en algunos alimentos procesados y materia prima grasa comercializados en cuatro ciudades de zonas urbanas del Paraguay. De los 28 tipos de alimentos analizados, el 84,7% contenía ≥0,2 gAGT/porción. Alrededor del 79% superó 5% de AGT totales en el contenido lipídico del alimento, nivel superior al recomendado actualmente por la OMS. En las muestras de materia prima grasa, se encontraron niveles excepcionalmente altos de AGT totales (77,6%) en comparación con los niveles recomendados (5%). Este trabajo presenta los primeros datos sobre el contenido de AGT en alimentos tradicionales de consumo en Paraguay como la chipa1, y destaca la importancia del control de la composición de los alimentos de venta local y sin etiquetado, así como la necesidad de apuntar a la reformulación de estos alimentos, con menores niveles de AGT con base en las recomendaciones nutricionales actuales a nivel mundial para la prevención de enfermedades cardiovasculares.
The food fats play a fundamental role in human nutrition. Based on the known adverse health effects of diets high in trans fatty acids (TFA) and the need for information on levels in food for local consumption, in this work we investigated the content of total lipids and total TFA in some processed foods and fat raw material commercialized in four cities in urban areas of Paraguay. Of the 28 types of foods analyzed, 84.7% contained ≥0.2 g TFA/serving. Approximately 79% exceeded 5% of total TFA in food fat, which is higher than those levelscurrently recommended by the WHO. In raw material fat samples, exceptionally high levels of total TFA were found (77.6%) compared to the recommended level (5%). This paper presents the first data on the content of TFA in traditional foods of consumption in Paraguay, as chipa, and highlights the importance of the control of the composition of the foods of local sale and without labeling, as well as the need to point to the reformulation of these foods, with lower levels of trans fatty acids based on the current nutritional recommendations worldwide for the prevention of cardiovascular diseases.
