Neonatal administration of fenofibrate had no developmental programming effect on the lipid profile and relative leucocyte telomere lengths of adolescent rats fed a high-fructose diet postnatally.

Telomere length, a marker of ageing, is susceptible to developmental programming that may cause its accelerated attrition. Metabolic syndrome triggers telomere attrition. Fenofibrate, a peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-alpha agonist, is protective against telomere attrition. We investigated the impact of fenofibrate administered during suckling on the lipid profile and leucocyte telomere lengths of rats fed a high-fructose diet post-weaning. Suckling Sprague-Dawley pups (n = 119) were allocated to four groups and gavaged with either 10 mL·kg-1 body mass 0.5% dimethyl sulfoxide, 100 mg·kg-1 body mass fenofibrate, fructose (20%, w / v), or a combination of fenofibrate and fructose for 15 days. Upon weaning, each of the initial groups was split into two subgroups: one had plain water while the other had fructose solution (20%, w / v) to drink for 6 weeks. Blood was collected for DNA extraction and relative leucocyte telomere length determination by real-time PCR. Plasma triglycerides and cholesterol were also quantified. The treatments had no effect (p > 0.05) on body mass, cholesterol concentration, and relative leucocyte telomere lengths in both sexes. Post-weaning fructose increased triglyceride concentrations (p < 0.05) in female rats. Fenofibrate administered during suckling did not affect ageing nor did it prevent high fructose-induced hypertriglyceridaemia in female rats.

The potential of Artemisia species for use as broad-spectrum agents in the management of metabolic syndrome: a review.

Although the prevalence of metabolic syndrome (MetS), a cluster of cardiometabolic risk factors that predispose to the development of type 2 diabetes mellitus and cardiovascular diseases, is increasing globally, there is no broad-spectrum agent for its holistic treatment. Natural plant-derived products with a wide spectrum of biological activities are currently being explored as alternatives in the management of diseases. Artemisia species are a heterozygous group of plants of the Compositae family that possess several health benefits. Here we highlight their antidiabetic, anti-obesity, anti-hyperlipidaemic, hepatoprotective and cardioprotective properties among others. These activities have been linked to the presence of phytochemicals that act on several molecular targets to exert their effects and the species of Artemisia are considered to be relatively safe. Artemisia species offer significant anti-MetS activity and thus are strong therapeutic candidates for the effective management of MetS.

Medicinal Plants, Phytochemicals, and Their Impacts on the Maturation of the Gastrointestinal Tract.

The gastrointestinal tract (GIT) is the first point of contact for ingested substances and thus represents a direct interface with the external environment. Apart from food processing, this interface plays a significant role in immunity and contributes to the wellbeing of individuals through the brain-gut-microbiota axis. The transition of life from the in utero environment, to suckling and subsequent weaning has to be matched by phased development and maturation of the GIT; from an amniotic fluid occupancy during gestation, to the milk in the suckling state and ultimately solid food ingestion at weaning. This phased maturation of the GIT can be affected by intrinsic and extrinsic factors, including diet. Despite the increasing dietary inclusion of medicinal plants and phytochemicals for health benefits, a dearth of studies addresses their impact on gut maturation. In this review we focus on some recent findings mainly on the positive impact of medicinal plants and phytochemicals in inducing precocious maturation of the GIT, not only in humans but in pertinent animals. We also discuss Paneth cells as mediators and potential markers of GIT maturation.

Zingerone Administered Neonatally Prevents the Subsequent Development of High Dietary Fructose-Induced Fatty Liver in Sprague Dawley Rats.

Consumption of high-fructose diets early in life increases the risk of developing metabolic disorders, including nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Zingerone, an alkaloid isolated from Zingiber officinale, has been demonstrated to reverse obesity and fatty liver in adult male rats. We investigated the potential preventive effects of neonatally administered zingerone on the development of fructose-induced NAFLD in male and female rats. Four-day-old male (n = 35) and female (n = 44) rat pups were randomized and gavaged with: 10 mL/kg body weight (bwt) of distilled water (C), 10 mL/kg bwt of 20% fructose solution (Fr), 10 mL/kg bwt of 20% fructose solution +40 mg/kg bwt of zingerone (ZFr), and 40 mg/kg bwt of zingerone (Z) daily for 14 days. After weaning, all groups continued on unlimited standard rat feed; however, groups C and Z had plain drinking water, whereas groups Fr and ZFr had unlimited 20% fructose solution to drink for 10 weeks. Rats on the high-fructose diet (Fr) compared with the negative controls (C) had significantly increased hepatic lipid content (in %, males: P = .0002; females: P < .0001, analysis of variance [ANOVA]) and hepatic steatosis score (in %, males: P = .0018; females: P < .0022, Kruskal-Wallis ANOVA). Zingerone prevented (P < .05) the fructose-induced increase in hepatic steatosis in both sexes. The plasma alanine aminotransferase activity, levels of uric acid, TBARS (thiobarbituric acid reactive substances), IL-6 (interleukin-6), and TNF-α (tumor necrosis factor alpha) were not different (P > .05, ANOVA) across the different treatment groups in both sexes. No difference (P > .05, ANOVA) was observed between the two sexes for treatment, sex and interaction effects with regard to hepatic lipid content, and measured blood parameters. The use of zingerone neonatally should be further investigated as a strategic prophylactic intervention for the prevention of long-term high-fructose diet-induced NAFLD.

Short-Term Neonatal Oral Administration of Oleanolic Acid Protects against Fructose-Induced Oxidative Stress in the Skeletal Muscles of Suckling Rats.

Nutritional manipulations in the neonatal period are associated with the development of negative or positive health outcomes later in life. Excessive fructose consumption has been attributed to the increase in the global prevalence of metabolic syndrome (MetS) and the development of oxidative stress. Oleanolic acid (OA) has anti-diabetic and anti-obesity effects. We investigated the protective potential of orally administering OA in the neonatal period, to prevent fructose-induced oxidative stress, adverse health outcomes and maturation of the gastrointestinal tract (GIT) in suckling rats. Seven-day old Sprague-Dawley rats (N = 30) were gavaged daily with 10 mL/kg of: distilled water (DW), oleanolic acid (OA; 60 mg/kg), high fructose solution (HF; 20% w/v), or OAHF for 7 days. On day 14, tissue samples were collected to determine clinical health profiles, hepatic lipid content, and activity of anti-oxidant enzymes. Furthermore, biomarkers of oxidative stress and anti-oxidant capacity in the skeletal muscles were assessed. The gastrointestinal tract (GIT) morphometry was measured. Rats in all groups grew over the 7-day treatment period. There were no significant differences in the terminal body masses, GIT morphometry, surrogate markers of general health, liver lipid content across all treatment groups (p < 0.05). Neonatal fructose administration decreased the activity of catalase, depleted GSH and increased lipid peroxidation. However, the level of GSH and catalase activity were improved by neonatal OA treatment. Short-term oral OA administration during the critical developmental period protects against fructose-induced oxidative stress without adverse effects on health outcomes associated with MetS or precocious development of the GIT in suckling male and female rats.

The effects of high-fat diets composed of different animal and vegetable fat sources on the health status and tissue lipid profiles of male Japanese quail (Coturnix coturnix japonica).

OBJECTIVE: The current study aimed to investigate the impact of high-fat diets composed of different animal and vegetable fat sources on serum metabolic health markers in Japanese quail, as well as the overall lipid content and fatty acid profiles of the edible bird tissues following significantly increased dietary lipid supplementation. METHODS: Fifty seven male quail were divided into six groups and fed either a standard diet or a diet enriched with one of five different fats (22% coconut oil, lard, palm oil, soybean oil, or sunflower oil) for 12 weeks. The birds were subjected to an oral glucose tolerance test following the feeding period, after which they were euthanized and blood, liver, breast, and thigh muscle samples collected. Total fat content and fatty acid profiles of the tissue samples, as well as serum uric acid, triglyceride, cholesterol, total protein, albumin, aspartate transaminase, and total bilirubin concentrations were assessed. RESULTS: High-fat diet feeding had no significant effects on the glucose tolerance of the birds. Dietary fatty acid profiles of the added fats were reflected in the lipid profiles of both the liver and breast and thigh muscle tissues, indicating successful transfer of dietary fatty acids to the edible bird tissues. The significantly increased level of lipid inclusion in the diets of the quail used in the present study was unsuccessful in increasing the overall lipid content of the edible bird tissues. Serum metabolic health markers in birds on the high-fat diets were not significantly different from those observed in birds on the standard diet. CONCLUSION: Thus, despite the various high-fat diets modifying the fatty acid profile of the birds' tissues, unlike in most mammals, the birds maintained a normal health status following consumption of the various high-fat diets.

Report-The fatty acid composition and physicochemical properties of the underutilised Cassia abbreviata seed oil.

The fatty acid composition of the underutilised Cassia abbreviata seed oil was determined using gas chromatographic methods. C. abbreviata seeds yielded 9.53% of yellowish-green oil consisting mainly of oleic acid (37.8%), palmitic acid (26.5%), linoleic acid (26.7%), stearic acid (4.1%) and elaidic acid (2.1%). The oil was solid at room temperature, had a saponification value of 376.16 mg KOH/g and an iodine value of 26.48 g I2/100g oil. The fatty acid composition and saponification value of the C. abbreviata seed oil suggest that it may find application in both cosmetic and pharmaceutical natural product formulations.

Suppression of Caco-2 and HEK-293 cell proliferation by Kigelia africana, Mimusops zeyheri and Ximenia caffra seed oils.

Animal-derived oils and purified fatty acids, but not indigenous fruit-tree-derived seed oils, have been used to study cell growth and differentiation. In this study, we determined the effects of the Kigelia africana, the Mimusops zeyheri and the Ximenia caffra seed-oil on cell proliferation in culture. Human colon adenocarcinoma (Caco-2) and human embryonic kidney (HEK-293) cells were maintained and treated with various concentrations (0, 20, 40, 80, 100 and 120 mg/l) of K. africana, M. zehyeri and X. caffra seed oil. The trypan blue dye exclusion method was used to determine cell growth 48-hours after oil treatment. All three tree seed oils suppressed both Caco-2 and HEK-293 cell growth in a dose-dependent manner. Importantly, the tree seed oils did not cause increased cell death as the number of dead cells remained unchanged under control and oil-treated conditions. K. africana oil significantly suppressed Caco-2 cell growth compared to HEK-293 cell growth at all oil concentrations, whereas M. zeyheri and X. caffra seed oils significantly suppressed HEK-293 and Caco-2 cell growth, only at a concentration of 80 mg/l. The suppression of Caco-2 and HEK-293 cell proliferation by K. africana, M. zeyheri and X. caffra seed oils suggest a potential antiproliferative effect of these tree seed oils on the two cell lines.