Neuroprotective effect of Sapucaia nuts (Lecythis pisonis) on rats fed with high-fat diet / Efecto neuroprotector de la castaña de sapucaia (Lecythis pisonis) en ratones sometidos a la dieta de cafetería

Background: Lecythis pisonis Cambess is commonly known as «castanha de sapucaia» in Brazil. Chemical composition studies revealed that this nut is an excellent source of anti-oxidant minerals and of essential lipids. Objective: The aim of the present study is to assess the anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory effect of Lecythis pisonis Cambess on the brain tissue of Wistar rats. Material and methods: The animals were divided in four experimental groups (n = 6), total of forty-eight rats. Treatments included the standard diet (AIN-93G) and high-fat food, supplemented with Sapucaia nut from 14 to 28 days. The gene expression markers TNF-α, NFkB, ZnSOD and HSP-72 were defined through reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (rtPCR). The anti-oxidant effect was assessed through the thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances (TBARS) and the measurement of the activity performed by superoxide dismutase enzymes. Results: Accordingly, the gene expression of the inflammatory markers NFkB (p65) and TNF-α was lower in rats fed on diets supplemented with «sapucaia», and they presented significant difference in the Tukey test (p < 0.05). The heat-shock HSP-72 protein and the ZnSOD enzyme raised the gene expression and showed significant statistical difference (p < 0.05) in both groups fed on Sapucaia nut-based diet. Conclusion: Thus, the nutritional properties of the Sapucaia nuts perform important neuroprotective activities because they modulated the anti-oxidant activity and the brain tissue inflammatory process in the assessed animals (AU)

Introducción: la Lecythis pisonis Cambess es conocida popularmente en Brasil como «castaña de sapucaia». Estudios de su composición química revelaron que esta castaña es una excelente fuente de minerales antioxidantes y de lípidos esenciales. Objetivo: evaluar los efectos antioxidantes y anti inflamatorios en el tejido cerebral de ratones Wistar. Material y métodos: los animales fueron distribuidos aleatoriamente en cuatro grupos experimentales (n = 6) totalizando 48 ratones. Los tratamientos fueron conducidos por un periodo de 14 a 28 días con dietas estándar AIN-93G y de cafetería con castaña de sapucaia. La expresión génica de los marcadores TNF-α, NFkB, ZnSOD y HSP-72 fue determinada por la reacción en cadena de la polimerasa cuantitativa tras transcripción inversa (qPCR). La actividad antioxidante también fue verificada por la determinación de las especies reactivas del ácido tiobarbitúrico (TBARS) y por mensuración de la actividad de la enzima superoxido dismutasa. Resultados: la expresión génica de los marcadores inflamatorios NFkB (p65) y TNF-α fue menor para los grupos de ratones que consumieron las dietas enriquecidas con sapucaia con diferencia significativa por el test de Tukey (p < 0,05). La proteína de choque térmico HSP-72 y la enzima ZnSOD presentaron aumento de la expresión génica con diferencia estadística significativa (p < 0,05) para ambos grupos que consumieron sapucaia en sus dietas. Conclusión: las propiedades nutricionales de la castaña de sapucaia ejercieron importante actividad neuroprotectora por modular la actividad antioxidante y el proceso inflamatorio en los tejidos cerebrales de los animales evaluados (AU)

Antioxidant activity and protecting health effects of common medicinal plants.

Medicinal plants are traditionally used in folk medicine as natural healing remedies with therapeutic effects such as prevention of cardiovascular diseases, inflammation disorders, or reducing the risk of cancer. In addition, pharmacological industry utilizes medicinal plants due to the presence of active chemical substances as agents for drug synthesis. They are valuable also for food and cosmetic industry as additives, due to their preservative effects because of the presence of antioxidants and antimicrobial constituents. To commonly used medicinal plants with antioxidant activity known worldwide belong plants from several families, especially Lamiaceae (rosemary, sage, oregano, marjoram, basil, thyme, mints, balm), Apiaceae (cumin, fennel, caraway), and Zingiberaceae (turmeric, ginger). The antioxidant properties of medicinal plants depend on the plant, its variety, environmental conditions, climatic and seasonal variations, geographical regions of growth, degree of ripeness, growing practices, and many other factors such as postharvest treatment and processing. In addition, composition and concentration of present antioxidants, such as phenolic compounds, are related to antioxidant effect. For appropriate determination of antioxidant capacity, the extraction technique, its conditions, solvent used, and particular assay methodology are important.

Eye nutrient products for age-related macular degeneration: what do they contain?

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Patients are increasingly well informed about the availability of antioxidant products and the claims made for their benefits in age-related macular degeneration (AMD). Consequently, their use is becoming widespread. The purpose of this study is to conduct a survey of the commonly encountered products, and to compare their ingredients with the current Age-Related Eye Disease Study (AREDS) recommendations. METHODS: A search was undertaken for products sold as 'eye nutrients' at local pharmacies and health food shops, and for products advertised via the Internet. Information about these products was collated and analysed. RESULTS: We identified 22 eye nutrient products. Analysis of their constituents showed that, although over 75% contained all the constituents used in AREDS, only two matched the dosage profiles recommended in the study. CONCLUSION: The authors draw no conclusion on the efficacy of nutritional supplements in the prevention of AMD. In order to advise their patients, ophthalmologists should be familiar with these products. The compiled list in this paper should provide a useful reference for them.

Vitamin E and coronary heart disease: the European paradox.

OBJECTIVE: To relate premature mortality from coronary heart disease (CHD) to national food and nutrient supplies. DESIGN: Descriptive correlational study. SETTING: Nineteen western European and five non-European countries. METHODS: Premature mortality from CHD in men below 65 years was related to recalculated Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) food, antioxidant vitamins and other nutrient supply data in 24 developed countries for 1985-87. Longitudinal analyses of death rates from CHD and supplies between 1970 and 1987 were carried out for all the countries. Correlational analyses of supplies that preceded mortality by up to 10 years were also undertaken. RESULTS: In 17 western European countries the inter-country association of dairy product supply with CHD was of moderate strength (r = 0.5) and the principal saturated fatty acids derived from dairy products: butyric, caproic and myristic acids (C4:0, C6:0 and C14:0) were the most strongly related with CHD (r = 0.5, 0.5 and 0.4 respectively). The phenolic-antioxidant-rich foods, e.g. wine, vegetables and vegetable oils, were inversely related to CHD (r = -0.8, -0.7 and -0.6 respectively). Of the antioxidant vitamins, the alpha-tocopherol component of vitamin E was strongly related to CHD across Europe (r = -0.8). The major determinant of alpha-tocopherol supply was usually sunflowerseed oil. Vitamin C and beta-carotene gave moderate correlations (r = -0.6 and -0.5 respectively). Latency periods of 5 and 10 years between supplies and mortality rates did not markedly change the correlations. Longitudinal analyses of nutrient supplies and death rates within each country from 1970 to 1987 also showed that for the majority of countries there was an inverse association between supply of alpha-tocopherol and CHD. CONCLUSIONS: Dietary alpha-tocopherol may provide at least as good an explanation as does wine for the paradoxically low rates of CHD in several European countries which have a relatively high saturated fatty acid intake.