Freeze-dried jaboticaba peel powder rich in anthocyanins did not reduce weight gain and lipid content in mice and rats

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)Jaboticaba, a native fruit from Brazilian Atlantic Forest, is an important source of anthocyanins. Anthocyanins have been recently identified as modulators of lipid metabolism and energy expenditure 'in vivo'. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of the freeze-dried jaboticaba peel powder on obesity treatment in different experimental models. Obese Swiss mice and obese Sprague-Dawley rats were fed a high-fat diet supplemented with 1, 2 and 4% freeze-dried jaboticaba peel powder for 6 weeks. Energy intake, weight gain and body composition were determined, and the results were analyzed using variance and Tukey's tests (p<0.05). The energy intake was higher in mice groups supplemented with 2% and 4% of jaboticaba peel. In relation to weight gain, the mice supplemented with 2% of jaboticaba peel had higher total weight gain than the other experimental groups, while no significant difference in the fat mass accumulation was observed among the groups. The rats did not show significant differences in the evaluated parameters. These results suggest that the supplementation with freeze-dried jaboticaba peel powder, at concentrations of 1, 2 and 4%, was not effective in the reduction of energy intake, weight gain and body fat both in mice and in rats.6213743Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq

Geographic variation in the aetiology, epidemiology and microbiology of bronchiectasis

Bronchiectasis is a disease associated with chronic progressive and irreversible dilatation of the bronchi and is characterised by chronic infection and associated inflammation. The prevalence of bronchiectasis is age-related and there is some geographical variation in incidence, prevalence and clinical features. Most bronchiectasis is reported to be idiopathic however post-infectious aetiologies dominate across Asia especially secondary to tuberculosis. Most focus to date has been on the study of airway bacteria, both as colonisers and causes of exacerbations. Modern molecular technologies including next generation sequencing (NGS) have become invaluable tools to identify microorganisms directly from sputum and which are difficult to culture using traditional agar based methods. These have provided important insight into our understanding of emerging pathogens in the airways of people with bronchiectasis and the geographical differences that occur. The contribution of the lung microbiome, its ethnic variation, and subsequent roles in disease progression and response to therapy across geographic regions warrant further investigation. This review summarises the known geographical differences in the aetiology, epidemiology and microbiology of bronchiectasis. Further, we highlight the opportunities offered by emerging molecular technologies such as -omics to further dissect out important ethnic differences in the prognosis and management of bronchiectasis.NMRC (Natl Medical Research Council, S’pore)MOH (Min. of Health, S’pore)Published versio

Production of R-(+)-alpha-terpineol by the biotransformation of limonene from orange essential oil, using cassava waste water as medium

The use of two agro-residues (liquid cassava waste and orange essential oil) in the biotransformation of R-(+)-limonene was investigated. The main components of orange essential oil were determined by GC-MS and R-(+)-limonene was shown to be the predominant constituent, accounting for more than 94% of the total content. Cassava wastewater proved to be a suitable substrate for mycelial growth, leading to good, rapid growth with all the fungal strains tested, reaching 29.4 g/l (dry weight) after 3 days of growth (Penicillium sp. 2025). The best R-(+)-alpha-terpineol yields were achieved when the strains were grown in cassava media and the mycelia then transferred to a new flask containing mineral medium and orange essential oil as the sole C- and energy source. One of the strains tested, Fusarium oxysporum 152B, converted R-(+)-limonene to R-(+)-alpha-terpineol, yielding nearly 450 mg/l after 3 days of transformation. Growth in the presence of a solution of 1% orange essential oil in decane did not increase the transformation yields. (c) 2006 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.101134535

Yacon (Smallanthus sonchifolius): A Functional Food

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)Yacon (Smallanthus sonchifolius) is an Andean tuberous root that is regarded as a functional food given that it contains fructooligosaccharides (FOS), inulin and phenolic compounds. The consumption of FOS and inulin improves the growth of bifidobacteria in the colon, enhances mineral absorption and gastrointestinal metabolism and plays a role in the regulation of serum cholesterol. Furthermore, the literature reports that the consumption of these prebiotics promotes a positive modulation of the immune system, improving resistance to infections and allergic reactions. Certain studies have demonstrated the potential of yacon as an alternative food source for those patients with conditions that require dietary changes. This review intends to describe the potential of yacon as a prebiotic and its cultivation and industrial processing for human consumption.683222228Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq

Conjugated linoleic acid and phytosterols counteract obesity induced by high-fat diet

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)This study aims to evaluate the effects of dietary conjugated linoleic acid (CIA) and phytosterol supplementation and their combination added to high fat diet to verify their action on the satiety hormones, food intake, weight loss and peripheral glucose intolerance and insulin resistance in healthy rats. Twenty-one-day-old male healthy Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into five groups (n = 5): Standard group (P), Standard High-Fat group (HF), and three high-fat groups fed diets with 2% CIA added (HC), 2% phytosterol (HP) and 2% CIA plus 2% phytosterol (HS). The standard diet was AIN-93G with 12% protein and 4% vegetable oil; the high-fat diet contained 12% protein and 35% fat (4% vegetable oil and 31% animal fat). The experimental period lasted 8 weeks. The groups receiving supplements showed a significant reduction of retroperitoneal and epididymal adipose tissue as compared to the HF group (p<0.05). However, there was no improvement in insulin resistance and glucose in either supplemented group (p<0.05). The leptin decreased only in the groups that were receiving CIA (p<0.05). All supplemented groups showed a reduction in diet consumption, but the groups that received the supplements showed weight reduction compared to the HF group (p<0.05). The animals that received the supplements alone or in combination showed reduced fat mass and the effect was potentiated in the group HS, but there was no improvement in ghrelin, adiponectin insulin and glucose resistance. The supplements alone or in combination promoted reduction of food intake and also promoted weight loss in experimental animals. (C) 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.511429435Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq

MANUFACTURING COST OF SUPERCRITICAL-EXTRACTED OILS AND CAROTENOIDS FROM AMAZONIAN PLANTS

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)The objective of this work was to study the economical viability of supercritical fluid extraction (SFE) of oil and carotenoids from three Amazonian palm trees: buriti, pupunha and pressed palm fiber (PPF). Literature experimental SFE data were used to estimate the cost of manufacturing (COM) of oils and carotenoids present in the crops, considering five main costs: fixed cost of investment, operational labor, utilities, waste treatment and raw material. SFE at 40C/300 bar, 50C/250 bar and 45C/300 bar presented the lowest COM for buriti, pupunha and PPF oils, respectively. The time of extraction determined the concentration of carotenoids in the oils. Under the conditions studied, the prices of SFE oils were higher than the selling prices of pressed oils, not because of the investment cost, but because of the raw material cost. Nevertheless, it is known that SFE oils are generally richer in carotenoids, which should determine higher selling prices and special uses for the product. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS Oils extracted from the pulp and shell of Mauritia flexuosa (buriti) and Guilielma speciosa (pupunha) and from the pressed fiber of Elaes guineensis (palm oil), all of which are Amazonian palm fruits, are rich in carotenoids. Recent studies have shown that supercritical fluid extraction (SFE) may be economically viable to obtain vegetable extracts. However, it is important to study the economical viability of this technology, because the investment costsare usually pointed as the main reason why there are still no SFE industrial plants in Latin America. Studies showing SFE viability and each cost impact for Amazonian plants may be decisive in order to influence South American companies to invest in this green technology.332348369Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)FAPESP [06/01777-5]CAPES [0026/02-6]CNPq [472512/2004-8

Antioxidant effects of the combination of conjugated linoleic acid and phytosterol supplementation in Sprague-Dawley rats

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of dietary conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) and phytosterol supplementation and their combination on antioxidant enzyme activities and biomarkers of lipid peroxidation in healthy rats. Forty male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into five groups and received diets supplemented with 2% of soybean oil (group 5), safflower oil (group LA) (control), a mixture of c9,t11 and t10,c12 CLA (group CLA). phytosterols (group P) and a mixture of CLA and phytosterols (group CLA + P) for 9 weeks. Plasma and hepatic indicators of lipid autoxidation and plasma antioxidant enzymes activities were determined. The supplementation with the mixture of CLA and phytosterols (CLA+P) did not alter food intake, weight gain, plasma malondialdehyde (MDA) and glutathione (GSH) values, superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GPx) and glutathione reductase (GRd) activities (P > 0.05). The supplementation with CLA significantly increased plasma catalase (CAT) activity (3.7-fold) and plasma 8-isoprostane values (60%) compared to S group (P<0.05). However, the assoCLAtion between CLA and phytosterols was able to restore the CAT and 8-isoprostane levels to basal values, since these indicators in the CLA + P group were statistically similar to S group. CLA +P supplementation also decreased lipid peroxidation primary (58%) and secondary (52%) products in liver (P<0.05). Supplementation of isolated phytosterols and CLA was also able to reduce hepatic lipid peroxidation products and plasma levels of MDA (P<0.05). The dietary combination of CLA + P improved the antioxidant status, reduced the lipid peroxidation and protected against possible effects of CLA supplementation on oxidative stress in vivo. (C) 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.491487493Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq

Fungal biotransformation of monoterpenes found in agro-industrial residues from orange and pulp industries into aroma compounds: Screening using solid phase microextraction

The biotransformation of monoterpenic agro-industrial wastes (turpentine oil and essential orange oil) was studied. More than 40 fungal strains were isolated from Brazilian tropical fruits and eucalyptus trees and screened for biotransformation of the waste substrates. Solid phase microextraction was used to monitor the presence of volatile compounds in the headspaces of sporulated surface cultures. The selected strains were submitted to submerged liquid culture. The biotransformation of R-(+)-limonene and alpha-, beta- pinenes from the oils resulted in a-terpineol and perillyl alcohol, and verbenol and verbetione, respectively, as the main products. The selected strains were also placed in contact with alpha- and beta-pinenes standards. It was confirmed that verbenol, verbenone, and a-terpineol were biotransformation products from the terpenes. A concentration of 90 mg/L of verbetione was achieved by Penicillium sp. 2360 after 3 days of biotransformation.161374