Physicochemical Parameters, Phytochemical Profile and Antioxidant Properties of a New Beverage Formulated with Xique-Xique (Pilosocereus gounellei) Cladode Juice

This study elaborated different formulations with xique-xique (Pilosocereus gounellei) cladode, passion fruit and lime juice and sugar cane syrup. The formulated beverages were subjected to physical and physicochemical analysis, determination of total carotenoid, total flavonoid and total phenolic compound contents, as well as of their antioxidant activity (ABTS and FRAP method), organic acid, sugar and phenolic compound profile during 21 days of refrigeration storage (4 °C). Significant variations were found among formulated beverages for most of the measured parameters during storage. Beverages with xique-xique juice were less acidic (7.90–10.27 g/100 mL) than beverages without this juice (11.66–12.76 g/100 mL). Beverages with xique-xique juice had overall higher contents of bioactive compounds and higher antioxidant activity when compared to the control formulation. Beverages with the highest xique-xique juice concentrations had the highest contents of carotenoids (51.51–59.27 µg/100 mL), flavonoids (1.39–2.15 mg CE/100 mL), phenolic compounds (68.49–115.66 mg EGA/100 mL) and antioxidant activity, as measured by ABTS (0.71–0.84 µmol Trolox/mL) and FRAP (0.33–0.39 µmol Trolox/mL). These results indicate that the incorporation of xique-xique cladode juice in these mixed beverages enhanced their bioactive properties, especially of antioxidant compounds, enabling the development of a new product with potential functional properties to the beverage industry

Profile of milk fatty acids from moxotó goats fed with different levels of manicoba (Manihot Glaziovii Muel Arg.) silage

The objective of this work was to evaluate the effects of the manicoba silage use (Manihot glaziovii Muel Arg.) in different roughage:concentrate ratios (30:70; 40:60; 50:50 and 60:40 %) on the fatty acids profile of the milk from Moxotó goats. Eight multiparous goats with approximately 60 post-birth days and weigh 44 kg on average were used in a Double Latin Square with four treatments, four periods and four animals. Each period lasted 15 days with 10 days of adaptation to experimental diets and 5 days of milk collection. The results of the fatty acids analyses were submitted to the analysis of variance (ANOVA) and regression. An increasing linear effect for the miristic acid (C14:0) and decreasing for the linoleic acid (C18:3) was observed in function of the silage levels in diet. The milk fat presented high contents of desirable fatty acids (C18:0 + unsaturated acids), considered as nutritionally important due to their benefits to the human health. It could be concluded that the manicoba silage could be included in the diet with the participation of up to 60%, presenting a nutrient supply of high nutritional value.<br>O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar os efeitos da utilização de silagem de maniçoba (Manihot glaziovii Muel Arg.) em diferentes relações volumoso:concentrado (30:70; 40:60; 50:50 e 60:40 %) no perfil de ácidos graxos do leite de cabras da raça Moxotó. Foram utilizadas oito cabras multíparas com aproximadamente 60 dias pós-parto, pesando em média 44 kg, em um Quadrado Latino duplo 4 x 4, com quatro tratamentos, quatro períodos e quatro animais. Cada período teve duração de 15 dias, com 10 de adaptação às dietas experimentais e cinco dias de colheita de leite. Foi verificado efeito linear crescente do ácido mirístico (C14:0) e decrescente para o ácido linolênico (C18:3), em função dos níveis de silagem da dieta. A gordura do leite apresentou elevado teor de ácidos graxos desejáveis (C18:0 + insaturados), considerados importantes nutricionalmente pelos seus benefícios à saúde humana

Effects of goat whey on the experimental model of colitis induced by 2,4-dinitrobenzene sulfonic acid (DNBS).

<p>(A) Disease Activity Index (DAI); (B) food consumption; (C) weight/length ratio of the colon; and (D) colonic segment of the experimental groups. Data are expressed as the mean ± SEM (n = 12/group). Groups with different letters or with an asterisk (✶) differ significantly (one-way ANOVA post hoc Tukey’s test, P < 0.05).</p

Effects of goat whey on gene expression by RT-qPCR and immunofluorescence of the intestinal mucosal barrier proteins as measured.

<p>Colonic gene expression of the barrier function mediators gene expression (A) Mucin (MUC)-2, (B) MUC-3, (C) occludin, (D) zonula occludens (ZO)-1 analyzed by real-time qPCR and normalized with the housekeeping gene, Glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrohenase (GAPDH) in dinitrobenzene-sulphonic acid (DNBS) mice colitis 4 days after damage induction. Representative confocal photomicrographs of ZO-1 (E) immunoreactivity (green) in colons of the animals from each group; the sections are nuclear counterstained with DAPI (blue): (E.1) Healthy group had moderated ZO-1 labelling; (E.2) ZO-1 labelling was almost absence in DNBS control group; (E.3) ZO-1 labelling (red arrow) was strong in the treated group with goat whey; (E.4) Densitometric analysis confirmed a significant increases in ZO-1 in goat whey. Data are expressed as the means ± SEM. the groups with different letters differ significantly (one-way ANOVA post hoc Tukey’s test, P < 0.05).</p

Effect of goat whey on IL-17 expression in colitic mice.

<p>Representative confocal photomicrographs of IL-17 (Panel A) immunoreactivity (green) in colons of the animals from each group; the sections are nuclear counterstained with DAPI (blue): (A.1) Healthy group had absent or weak IL-17 labelling in all mucosa layers; (A.2) IL-17 labelling was strong in the DNBS control group; (A.3) weak to moderate IL-17 labelling (red arrow) was seen in the group treated with goat whey; (A.4) Densitometric analysis confirmed a significant reduction in IL-17 immunoreactivity in goat whey. Data are expressed as the means ± SEM; the groups with different letters differ significantly (one-way ANOVA post hoc Tukey’s test, P < 0.05).</p

Effects of goat whey on the gene expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines as measured by RT-qPCR.

<p>Colonic gene expression of the pro-inflammatory cytokines (A) Interleukin (IL)-1β, (B) IL-6, (C) tumour necrosis factor (TNF)-α, (D) inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), (E) matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-9, and (F) intercellular adhesion molecule (ICAM)-1 analyzed by real-time qPCR and normalized with the housekeeping gene, Glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrohenase (GAPDH) in dinitrobenzene-sulphonic acid (DNBS) mice colitis 4 days after damage induction. Data are expressed as the mean ± SEM (n = 12/group). The groups with different letters are significantly different (one-way ANOVA post hoc Tukey’s test, P < 0.05).</p