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Solanum lycocarpum St. Hil. is considered a natural anti-inflammatory. In traditional medicine, it is used to reduce cholesterol levels in the treatment of obesity. Foods capable of conferring a protective and nutritious effect have been used to prevent or attenuate the clinical symptoms of inflammatory bowel diseases. Ulcerative colitis is a multifactorial inflammatory bowel disease. This study investigated the impact of the consumption of the fibrous fraction (FF) and resistant starch (RS) of fruta-do-lobo in an experimental model of colitis induced with the use 2,4,6-trinitrobenzene sulphonic acid (TNBS) in rats. The different colitis groups all experienced decreased weight gain, which could be linked to the inflammatory process ( p = 0.603). Additionally, the experimental model led to increased oxidative stress, higher levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines, and the elevated gene expression of these cytokines. Despite this, consuming the fibrous fraction of fruta-do-lobo (RS and FF) did not appear to protect the animals against the inflammatory process. Regarding the expression of TNF-α, only the group treated with the drug mesalamine had a reduced serum level of this inflammatory marker ( p = 0.03). Our results showed that the diet containing RS and FF did not protect the intestinal mucosa against TNBS inflammation. New studies on the variation in the time of consumption or the supplemented dose of fruta-do-lobo fibers could help to elucidate their effects in protecting the mucosa.

The consumption of jabuticaba ( Plinia cauliflora ), a native Brazilian fruit, has shown promising results concerning some metabolic disorders. Therefore, studying it may aid in the development of products capable of preventing or delaying pathological conditions. The objective of the present study was to formulate a functional sourdough bread with the inclusion of jabuticaba peel flour (JPF) and to evaluate the effect on the postprandial response. The proximate composition of the JPF and bread, the stability of the antioxidant compounds after baking, and the functional activity in a clinical trial were carried out to develop the product and guarantee its quality. JPF increased the fiber content of the bread in comparison to the control from 1.0 g/100 g to 2.3-2.9 g/100 g. Also, the antioxidant capacity increased 1.35 to 3.53 times by adding JPF to the bread, as well as the total reducing capacity (1.56 to 2.67 times). The bread's shelf life was guaranteed for seven days. In the clinical trial, the consumption of control bread resulted in a glycemia peak at 30 min, remaining high until 45 min; for the JPF bread, we noticed a less prominent peak at 45 min and a decrease with less inflection until 180 min. The serum antioxidant capacity of the individuals increased after the 3 h. Although no statistical difference was observed between the groups in the satiety profile, JPF bread presented higher scores after 60 min. Furthermore, a lessened desire to eat other foods and hunger was observed after consuming JPF bread. The inclusion of JPF in the bread manufacturing process promoted a longer shelf life and increased nutritional quality.

Collagen is one of the main components of the extracellular matrix of the dermis and articular cartilage and influences the body's mechanical, organizational, and tissue formation properties. Produced from food industry by-products, it is considered a nutraceutical product widely used as an ingredient or supplement in food, pharmaceutical, and cosmetic industries. This study aimed to conduct a literature review on the scientific evidence regarding the beneficial effects of collagen consumption in the treatment of skin and orthopedic diseases. Literature data have shown that hydrolyzed collagen supplementation promotes skin changes, such as decreased wrinkle formation; increased skin elasticity; increased hydration; increased collagen content, density, and synthesis, which are factors closely associated with aging-related skin damage. Regarding orthopedic changes, collagen supplementation increases bone strength, density, and mass; improves joint stiffness/mobility, and functionality; and reduces pain. These aspects are associated with bone loss due to aging and damage caused by strenuous physical activity. Thus, this review addresses the economic and health potential of this source of amino acids and bioactive peptides extracted from food industry by-products., (©2023PublishedbyElsevierLtd.)

Jaboticaba peel ( Myrciaria jaboticaba ) is a source of bioactive compounds. We investigated the anticancer activity of ethyl acetate extract (JE1) and hydroethanolic extract (JE2) of Jaboticaba peel against breast cancer. Both JE1 and JE2 inhibited clonogenic potential of MDA-MB-231 cells while JE1 was particularly effective in MCF7 cells. Anchorage-independent growth and cell viability was also inhibited by JE1 and JE2. In addition to growth inhibition, JE1 and JE2 could also inhibit migration and invasion of cells. Interestingly, JE1 and JE2 show selective inhibition towards certain breast cancer cells and biological processes. Mechanistic evaluations showed that JE1 induced PARP cleavage, BAX and BIP indicating apoptotic induction. An elevation of phosphorylated ERK was observed in MCF7 cells in response to JE1 and JE2 along with increased IRE-α and CHOP expression indicating increased endoplasmic stress. Therefore, Jaboticaba peel extracts could be potentially considered for further development for breast cancer inhibition., Competing Interests: The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (© 2023 The Author(s).)

Researchers from different fields have studied the causes of obesity and associated comorbidities, proposing ways to prevent and treat this condition by using a common animal model of obesity to create a profound energy imbalance in young adult rodents. However, to confirm the harmful effects of consuming a high-fat and hypercaloric diet, it is common to include normolipidic and normocaloric control groups in the experimental protocols. This study compared the effect of three experimental diets described in the literature - namely, a high-fat diet, a high-fat and high-sucrose diet, and a high-fat and high-fructose diet - to induce obesity in C57BL/6 J mice with the standard AIN-93G diet as a control. We hypothesize that the AIN diet formulation is not a good control in this type of experiment because this diet promotes weight gain and metabolic dysfunctions similar to the hypercaloric diet. The metabolic data of animals fed the AIN-93G diet were similar to those of the high-calorie groups (development of steatosis and hyperlipidemia). However, it is important to emphasize that the group fed a high-fat diet had a higher percentage of total fat (p = 0.0002) and abdominal fat (p = 0.013) compared to the other groups. Also, the high-fat group responded poorly to glucose and insulin tolerance tests, showing a picture of insulin resistance. As expected, the intake of the AIN-93G diet promotes metabolic alterations in the animals like the high-fat formulations. Therefore, although this diet continues to be used as the gold standard for growth and maintenance, it warrants a reassessment of its composition to minimize the metabolic changes observed in this study, thus updating its fitness as a normocaloric model of a standard rodent diet., Competing Interests: The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (© 2022 The Authors.)

Mangabeira ( Hancornia speciosa ) is a Brazilian tree and a socioeconomic key due to the commercialization of its food products and tree parts to treat health conditions empirically. This review gathers the main chemical, and microbiological characteristics of the mangabeira tree parts (leaves, fruits, tree bark, latex, and seeds), emphasizing its applicability in food science and focusing on its bioapplicability in health conditions. Leaves, fruits, and tree bark can be used to develop functional foods, and phytochemical products; the tree latex have great potential in the bioengineering material field; and the seeds in sustainable energy production. Leaves and fruits were the main samples bioapplied in health conditions in vitro (oxidative stress and chemopreventive effect) and in vivo (gastrointestinal and cardiovascular health, anti-inflammatory, and antidiabetic effect), whereas tree bark and latex also exhibited health effects and seeds showed low cytotoxicity. All parts of the mangabeira tree can be explored by extractivist families and industries from a sustainable point of view., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflict of interest., (© 2022 Published by Elsevier Ltd.)

The interest in nutritional strategies that may counteract the deleterious oxidative effects induced by strenuous exercises is remarkable. Herein, the impact of white tea ( Camellia sinensis ) (WT), a polyphenol-rich beverage, on antioxidant status in endurance-trained rats after one session of exhaustive exercise were evaluated. Male Wistar rats were divided into groups, which received: control groups - water, and testing groups - WT1 (0.25%; w/v) or WT2 (0.5%; w/v). Drinks were consumed, ad libitum , for 5 or 10 weeks, concomitantly with the running training. Exhaustive running tests were applied before and after the experimental periods. WT intake increased the serum antioxidant capacity of rats in a dose-dependent manner (P < 0.001), which was unaccompanied by the activity of endogenous antioxidant enzymes SOD, GPx, and GR, and GSH content. Inflammatory markers in serum [IL-1β (P = 0.004) and IL-6 (P = 0.001)] could be downregulated by tea intake. In liver tissue, lower levels of lipid oxidation (P < 0.05) and improved antioxidant defenses (SOD, GPx, GR, and GSH, P < 0.05) were related to the consumption of WT in both doses, supporting protective effects in this responsible metabolic organ. In conclusion, long-term consumption of WT could be a promising adjuvant to exercise-stress management, emphasizing its ability to regulate antioxidant responses and prevent oxidative tissue damage., Competing Interests: The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (© 2022 The Authors.)

Studying the composition of a certain food is not enough to predict its health benefits. Research over the past decades has decisively strengthened the notion that any putative health benefit is best related to the fraction of compounds transferred from ingested foods into the body since the absorption may be incomplete after oral consumption. In other words, the bioavailability of food components is crucial information. Therefore, a variety of in vitro models have been developed to predict their bioaccessibility and bioavailability in the most diverse food matrices and food products. These models can also be applied to study the impact of several endogenous or exogenous factors on the bioaccessibility and bioavailability of nutrients and bioactive compounds, guiding nutrition and food scientists, technologists, and engineers towards the development of strategies to optimize the positive impact of the diet on well-being and quality of life. While bioavailability is ideally examined in human volunteers, in vitro digestion methods, as well as intestinal absorption and microphysiological models, simulate human physiological conditions. Additionally, in vitro methods are alternatives to offset ethical, economical, and experimental limitations associated with in vivo studies conducted either with individuals or animals. This graphical review draws parallels between in vitro models mimicking digestion processes, uptake, absorption, metabolism, and distribution of dietary compounds and human physiology., Competing Interests: The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (© 2022 The Author(s).)

Jabuticaba is a Brazilian berry rich in polyphenols, which may exert beneficial effects on metabolic diseases. This randomized crossover study aimed to determine the effects of jabuticaba juice (250 ml in a portion) on postprandial response. Sixteen healthy subjects (11 women; 5 men; 28.4 ± 3.8 years old; body mass index (BMI) 21.7 ± 2.3 kg m-2) consumed two test products after fasting overnight in a randomized controlled crossover design. Each test product portion had a similar composition of sugar components: 250 mL water with glucose, fructose, colored with artificial non-caloric food colorings (placebo); and 250 mL of jabuticaba juice. Beverages were administered immediately before a carbohydrate meal. Blood samples were collected at 0, 15, 30, 45, 60, 90, and 120 min after each test product to analyze the concentrations of glucose, insulin, C-peptide, antioxidant capacity, plasma glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1), and appetite sensations. Compared to the placebo, the intake of jabuticaba juice resulted in a higher GLP-1 response as the area under the curve (AUC) and peaking at 60 min. Jabuticaba juice also resulted in higher antioxidant capacity. Postprandial glucose, insulin, C-peptide levels, and appetite sensations were not significantly different between tests. In conclusion, 250 mL of jabuticaba juice before a carbohydrate meal was able to improve the antioxidant status and GLP-1 concentrations in healthy subjects.

The purpose of the study was to determine the effects of a tea from the leaves and flowers of Crataegus oxyacantha in rats with colitis. Colitis was induced by administration of 2,4,6-trinitrobenzene sulfonic acid. Hawthorn tea (HT) (100 mg/kg) was given via gavage for 21 days and the mesalamine drug (100 mg/kg) was administrated during the period of disease onset. HT was rich in total phenolic compounds (16.5%), flavonoids (1.8%), and proanthocyanidins (1.5%); vitexin-2-O-rhamnoside was the main compound detected. Mesalamine and the HT diminished the length of the lesions formed in the colon, in addition to reducing the levels of myeloperoxidase and interleukin-1β. Mesalamine was able to significantly reverse the body weight loss, while HT improved the activity of glutathione reductase and catalase. Histological scoring was not changed by the interventions, but it was highly correlated with the necrotic area. HT given at 100 mg/kg can be effective against colitis., Competing Interests: The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (© 2021 The Authors.)

Introduction: With the increase of chronic diseases as a consequence of the population's eating habits, there is also a growing interest in foods rich in bioactive compounds capable of mitigating these diseases. Thus, this study aimed to evaluate the effects of supplementation with kombucha and green banana flour (GBF) on Wistar rats fed with cafeteria diet (CAF)., Methods: The animals were randomized into five groups of seven animals each, which were fed with the following diets: Treatment 1 (T1): Control treatment/commercial feed; Treatment 2 (T2): cafeteria diet (CAF); Treatment 3 (T3): CAF + kombucha; Treatment 4 (T4): CAF + green banana flour (GBF); Treatment 5 (T5): CAF + GBF + kombucha. Daily weight gain, daily food consumption, feed conversion, blood glucose, total cholesterol and fractions, triglycerides, liver enzymes, antioxidant activity, and body composition were evaluated., Results: T5 presented lower feed intake and less weight gain. Liver histology revealed vacuolization in all treatments except T1, which was confirmed by the results of liver enzymes. There was no increase in blood glucose, and changes were observed in the lipid profile of the animals. T1 had the lowest body fat and the highest protein levels. Differences were observed for the antioxidant capacity in the liver of animals among treatments., Conclusion: The intake of cafeteria diet altered the lipid and liver profile of the animals and the consumption of kombucha and GBF did not prevent these changes. The high polyphenols level of kombucha did not exert a hepatoprotective effect as an antioxidant. However, this supplementation generated greater satiety in the animals, leading to less weight gain until the end of the experiment., Competing Interests: The authors declare the following conflict of interests: Cinthia Baú Betim Cazarin; [is an Associate Editor for Heliyon Food Science and Nutrition]., (© 2021 Published by Elsevier Ltd.)

Alpha-terpineol is a monoterpenoid found in many essential oils, being widely used in food and household products. In vitro antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities have already been associated with this alcohol; therefore, this study aimed to check if these properties were also present in vivo , counteracting the oxidant and inflammatory effects of a high-fat diet, as well as if there were differences in the biological activities among the two α-terpineol enantiomers. Thus, this work evaluated the effect of supplementation of α-terpineol enantiomers (at 25, 50 and 100 mg/kg of diet) on biological parameters of diet-induced obese Sprague-Dawley rats. In general, α-terpineol improved the nutritional parameters of rats fed a high-fat diet. The intake of α-terpineol at concentrations ≥50 mg/kg was able to reestablish the insulin sensibility and reduced (p < 0.05) serum levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines TNF-α and IL-1β, when compared with the control group. The intake of R -(+)- and (-)-α-terpineol decreased the TNF-α level by approximately 1.5 and 3.4 times, respectively, when compared with the high-fat group, regardless of the concentration. Moreover, both enantiomers at 50 mg/kg decreased the levels of serum thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) by 2.6-4.2 times, while hepatic TBARS were reduced in approximately 1.6 times, regardless of the compound and concentration tested. Further experiments are suggested to confirm the mechanisms and the security of α-terpineol in different experimental models and more extended exposure experiments., (© 2020 Published by Elsevier Ltd.)

Natural compounds could be a complementary alternative to inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) management. This study determined the effects of an aqueous extract of Myrciaria jaboticaba peel (EJP) (50 g L -1 ) on 2,4,6-trinitrobenzenesulfonic acid-induced colitis. Wistar rats were randomized into five groups: HC-healthy control, CC-colitis control, DC-drug control, SJ-short-term treatment with EJP, and LJ-long-term treatment with EJP. The EJP treatments reduced body weight loss, stool consistency score, and spleen enlargement. Gut microbiota was modulated through increased Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium counts after EJP treatment. Short-chain fatty acids were also higher in the EJP treatment groups. The antioxidant enzyme activities were greater than CC or DC controls. Myeloperoxidase activity (LJ), inducible nitric oxide synthase (LJ/SJ), and intercellular adhesion molecule (SJ) levels were lower than in the CC group. EJP decreased histological scoring, mucosal thickness, and preserved the crypts and histological structure. Therefore, EJP showed beneficial effects and could be potentially used as an adjuvant in IBD treatment.