El a?ai mejora la enfermedad de h?gado graso no alcoh?lico (NAFLD) inducida por la fructosa.

Introduction: the excessive consumption of fructose can cause liver damage, characteristic of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) associated with changes in lipid metabolism and antioxidant defenses. A?ai, the fruit of Euterpe oleracea Mart., has demonstrated numerous biological activities, including anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and lipid metabolism modulating action. Objective: we evaluated the benefits of a?ai supplementation on liver damage caused by replacing starch with fructose in rats. Methods: thirty male Fischer rats were divided into two groups, the control group (C, 10 animals), which consumed a standard diet (AIN-93M), and the fructose (F, 20 animals) group, which consumed a diet containing 60% of fructose. After eight weeks, 10 animals from the fructose group received 2% of lyophilized a?ai, and were called the a?ai fructose group (FA). The animals were fed ad libitum with these diets for another ten weeks. Serum, hepatic and fecal lipid profile, antioxidant enzymes and carbonylated protein were assessed and histopathological characterization of the liver was performed. Results: a?ai promoted the reduction of ALT activity in relation to the fructose group (F), reduced alkaline phosphatase to a level similar to that of the control group (C) in relation to the fructose group (F), and reduced catalase activity. The fruit also increased the ratio of total/oxidized glutathione (GSH/GSSG) and reduced the degree of macrovesicular steatosis and the number of inflammatory cells. Conclusion: the replacement of starch by fructose during this period was effective in promoting NAFLD. A?ai showed attenuating effects on some markers of hepatic steatosis and inflammation.Introducci?n: el consumo excesivo de fructosa puede causar da?o hep?tico, caracter?stico de la enfermedad hep?tica grasa no alcoh?lica (EHGNA), asociada con cambios en el metabolismo de los l?pidos y defensas antioxidantes. El a?ai, fruto del Euterpe oleracea Mart., ha demostrado desempe?ar numerosas actividades biol?gicas, incluidas acciones antiinflamatorias, antioxidantes y moduladoras del metabolismo lip?dico. Objetivo: se evaluaron los beneficios de la suplementaci?n con a?ai en el da?o hep?tico causado por la sustituci?n del almid?n por fructosa en ratas. M?todos: se distribuyeron 30 ratas Fischer macho en dos grupos: 10 ratas en el grupo control (C), que consum?a una dieta est?ndar (AIN-93M), y 20 ratas en el grupo fructosa (F), que consum?a una dieta que conten?a un 60% de fructosa. Despu?s de ocho semanas, diez animales del grupo fructosa recibieron un 2% de a?ai liofilizado, por lo que pasaron a integrar el grupo a?ai fructosa (FA). Los animales fueron alimentados ad libitum con estas dietas durante otras diez semanas. Se analizaron el perfil lip?dico hep?tico y fecal, las enzimas antioxidantes y la prote?na carbonilada, y se realiz? la caracterizaci?n histopatol?gica del h?gado. Resultados: el a?ai promovi? la reducci?n de la actividad de ALT en relaci?n al grupo de fructosa (F) y la reducci?n de la fosfatasa alcalina a niveles similares a los hallados en el grupo control (C) en relaci?n con el grupo de fructosa (F). El fruto tambi?n aument? la proporci?n de glutati?n total/oxidado (GSH/GSSG) y redujo el grado de esteatosis macrovesicular y el n?mero de c?lulas inflamatorias. Conclusi?n: la sustituci?n de almid?n por fructosa durante este periodo fue eficaz en la promoci?n de NAFLD. El a?ai mostr? efectos atenuantes en algunos marcadores de esteatosis hep?tica y de inflamaci?n

Antioxidant potential of Buriti (Mauritia flexuosa) pulp flour in diabetic rats

Buriti pulp flour (BPF) contains significant levels of antioxidants. This study evaluated the effect of BPF on biomarkers of oxidative damage in the liver, heart, and pancreas of diabetic rats. The chemical composition, antioxidant capacity, and polyphenol content of BPF were determined. Thirty-six female Fisher rats were divided into four groups: control (C); control + BPF (CB); diabetic (D); diabetic + BPF (DB). Diabetes was induced by treatment with streptozotocin. Thirty days after the induction of diabetes, glucose, total cholesterol and triacylglycerides serum levels, aminotransferase and paraoxonase activities were evaluated. Oxidative damage to lipids and proteins was assessed through thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) and protein carbonyl analyses, respectively. Histopathological analyses were also performed. BPF contained high concentrations of phenolic compounds, lipids, and fibers, and exhibited a high capacity to neutralize the 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical. Diabetes was evidenced by equivalent high levels of glucose in plasma from rats in the D and DB groups. Diabetic rats in both groups also presented the same increased activity of aminotransferases. Protein carbonyl levels were increased in liver, heart, and pancreas in the D compared with C group. Although treatment with BPF did not result in any histopathological alterations, it reduced significantly the levels of TBARS in the heart and protein carbonyls in the liver and heart. No effect on blood glucose and tissue histology was observed following treatment with BPF. However, BPF diminished oxidative damage in liver and heart, indicating a possible antioxidant potential in vivo, in addition to in vitro.La harina de pulpa buriti (BPF) contiene niveles significativos de antioxidantes. Este estudio evaluó el efecto del BPF en biomarcadores de daño oxidativo en el hígado, el corazón y el páncreas de ratas diabéticas. Se determino la composición química, la capacidad antioxidante y el contenido de polifenoles del BPF. Treinta y seis ratas Fisher fueron divididas en cuatro grupos: Control (C); Control + BPF (CB); Diabético (D); Diabético + BPF (DB). La diabetes fue inducida por tratamiento con estreptozotocina. Treinta dias después de la inducción de la diabetes, se evaluaron los niveles séricos de glucosa, colesterol total y triacilglicéridos, y las actividades de aminotransferasa y paraoxonasa. El daño oxidativo a lípidos y proteínas se evaluó a través de sustancias reactivas al ácido tiobarbitúrico (TBARS) y análisis de proteínas carboniladas respectivamente. También se realizaron análisis histopatológicos. El BPF contenía altas concentraciones de compuestos fenólicos, lípidos y fibras, y exhibía una alta capacidad para neutralizar el radical 2,2-difenil-1-picrilhidracil (DPPH). La diabetes se evidenció por altos niveles de glucosa en plasma de ratas en los grupos D y DB. Las ratas diabéticas en ambos grupos también presentaron la misma actividad aumentada de las aminotransferasas. Los niveles de proteínas carboniladas se incrementaron en el hígado, el corazón y el páncreas en el grupo D en comparación con el C. Aunque el tratamiento con BPF no dio lugar a alteraciones histopatológicas, redujo significativamente los niveles de TBARS en el corazón y las proteínas carboniladas en el hígado y el corazón. No se observo ningún efecto sobre la glucosa en la sangre y la histología de tejidos después del tratamiento con BPF. Sin embargo, el BPF disminuyó el daño oxidativo en el hígado y el corazón, lo que indica un posible potencial antioxidante in vivo, además de in vitro

A preliminary exploration of the potential of Eugenia uvalha Cambess juice intake to counter oxidative stress.

The ability of foods to aid in the prevention of chronic metabolic diseases, has recently become an area of increased interest. In addition, there is growing interest in exploring the benefits of consuming underutilized fruits as alternatives to commercially available fruits. Eugenia uvalha Cambess (uvaia) is a native fruit of Brazil with great market and phytotherapy potential. The present study was conducted to investigate the effects of uvaia juice (UJ) on the levels of protein carbonyls (PCO) and antioxidant enzymes in the livers of rats fed a highfat diet

Brazilian Flora 2020: Leveraging the power of a collaborative scientific network

International audienceThe shortage of reliable primary taxonomic data limits the description of biological taxa and the understanding of biodiversity patterns and processes, complicating biogeographical, ecological, and evolutionary studies. This deficit creates a significant taxonomic impediment to biodiversity research and conservation planning. The taxonomic impediment and the biodiversity crisis are widely recognized, highlighting the urgent need for reliable taxonomic data. Over the past decade, numerous countries worldwide have devoted considerable effort to Target 1 of the Global Strategy for Plant Conservation (GSPC), which called for the preparation of a working list of all known plant species by 2010 and an online world Flora by 2020. Brazil is a megadiverse country, home to more of the world's known plant species than any other country. Despite that, Flora Brasiliensis, concluded in 1906, was the last comprehensive treatment of the Brazilian flora. The lack of accurate estimates of the number of species of algae, fungi, and plants occurring in Brazil contributes to the prevailing taxonomic impediment and delays progress towards the GSPC targets. Over the past 12 years, a legion of taxonomists motivated to meet Target 1 of the GSPC, worked together to gather and integrate knowledge on the algal, plant, and fungal diversity of Brazil. Overall, a team of about 980 taxonomists joined efforts in a highly collaborative project that used cybertaxonomy to prepare an updated Flora of Brazil, showing the power of scientific collaboration to reach ambitious goals. This paper presents an overview of the Brazilian Flora 2020 and provides taxonomic and spatial updates on the algae, fungi, and plants found in one of the world's most biodiverse countries. We further identify collection gaps and summarize future goals that extend beyond 2020. Our results show that Brazil is home to 46,975 native species of algae, fungi, and plants, of which 19,669 are endemic to the country. The data compiled to date suggests that the Atlantic Rainforest might be the most diverse Brazilian domain for all plant groups except gymnosperms, which are most diverse in the Amazon. However, scientific knowledge of Brazilian diversity is still unequally distributed, with the Atlantic Rainforest and the Cerrado being the most intensively sampled and studied biomes in the country. In times of “scientific reductionism”, with botanical and mycological sciences suffering pervasive depreciation in recent decades, the first online Flora of Brazil 2020 significantly enhanced the quality and quantity of taxonomic data available for algae, fungi, and plants from Brazil. This project also made all the information freely available online, providing a firm foundation for future research and for the management, conservation, and sustainable use of the Brazilian funga and flora

Growing knowledge: an overview of Seed Plant diversity in Brazil

Abstract An updated inventory of Brazilian seed plants is presented and offers important insights into the country's biodiversity. This work started in 2010, with the publication of the Plants and Fungi Catalogue, and has been updated since by more than 430 specialists working online. Brazil is home to 32,086 native Angiosperms and 23 native Gymnosperms, showing an increase of 3% in its species richness in relation to 2010. The Amazon Rainforest is the richest Brazilian biome for Gymnosperms, while the Atlantic Rainforest is the richest one for Angiosperms. There was a considerable increment in the number of species and endemism rates for biomes, except for the Amazon that showed a decrease of 2.5% of recorded endemics. However, well over half of Brazillian seed plant species (57.4%) is endemic to this territory. The proportion of life-forms varies among different biomes: trees are more expressive in the Amazon and Atlantic Rainforest biomes while herbs predominate in the Pampa, and lianas are more expressive in the Amazon, Atlantic Rainforest, and Pantanal. This compilation serves not only to quantify Brazilian biodiversity, but also to highlight areas where there information is lacking and to provide a framework for the challenge faced in conserving Brazil's unique and diverse flora