Search

The coffee fruit is a high source of bioactive compounds such as phenolic acids and methylxanthines, comprising chlorogenic acids and caffeine, respectively. Extract from this matrix may be used as supplement or active ingredient of functional foods, energy drinks, cosmetics or drugs. Safety of caffeine- and chlorogenic acid-rich encapsulated and non-encapsulated hydroethanolic extracts from green coffee fruit (GCFE) was assessed by acute and subacute toxicity tests. In the acute test, oral single dosage until 1000 mg/kg per body weight (bw) did not show any adverse effect on both female and male mice according to the Hippocratic screening and clinical parameters for a period of 14 days. While the oral median lethal dose of non-encapsulated GCFE was 5000 mg/kg bw/day, that of encapsulated GCFE was not detectable likely due to the delayed release of caffeine and other compounds from GCFE. Non-encapsulated GCFE displayed a stimulating effect at a dose of 1000 mg/kg bw/day after 30 min of oral administration, but not after 60 min. Daily consumption of encapsulated GCFE for 30 days showed no adverse effect in male rats even at the highest dose. Extrapolating this value of no-observed-adverse-effect level (1000 mg/kg bw/day) to human consumption, a human equivalent dose of 189 mg/kg bw/day or 11.34 g/day could be estimated for encapsulated GCFE considering a 60 kg adult body weight.

Extracts of green coffee fruits (GCFEs), either of the Arabica or Robusta variety, obtained by percolation with a 68% (w/w) aqueous ethanol solution using a 0.9:10 (w/w) solid-to-solvent ratio, were tested in this study as antioxidant additives to delay sunflower oil oxidation. In addition, safety of the major secondary metabolites of the extracts was investigated by in silico modeling. For this purpose, GCFEs were spray dried either as such or microencapsulated with a 1:1 (w/w) maltodextrin and gum Arabic mixture as wall material. The encapsulation efficiencies of Arabica and Robusta GCFEs were as high as 96.9 ± 0.04 and 97.36 ± 0.03% and the chlorogenic acid retentions 59.61 ± 1.3 and 73.72 ± 2.49%, respectively. The HPLC-DAD analysis revealed higher contents of total chlorogenic acids and caffeine but a lower content of trigonelline in the Robusta GCFE compared with the Arabica one. The ACD/I-Lab, AdmetSAR, and pKCSM computational tools allowed excluding, for GCFEs major compounds, any toxicological potential in terms of Ames toxicity, carcinogenicity, hERG inhibition, hepatotoxicity, reproductive toxicity and skin sensitization. Foodstuff application of GCFE powders demonstrated that microencapsulated GCFEs were more effective in delaying sunflower oil oxidation than free GCFEs and butylated hydroxytoluene as a synthetic antioxidant. These results suggest the use of microencapsulated GCFE as a source of natural antioxidants to stabilize food products, especially unsaturated vegetable oils.

The objective of this study was to develop, analyze composition and evaluate the microbiological and sensory characteristics of high-protein diet bars (PB) with the addition of chia grain (Salvia hispanica L.), partially replacing isolated soy protein and concentrated whey protein, in proportions of 0, 10, 15 and 20%. The proximate composition was analyzed of PB, for microbiological quality of Bacillus cereus, Filamentous fungi and yeast count, total fecal coliforms, and Salmonella ssp. search. Sensory analysis was performed utilizing acceptance testing of characteristics on a nine-point hedonic scale for various attributes, including purchasing intention of the tested PB. Bars showed 20% moisture, 2.3% ash, 20-23% protein and 19% lipids. The effect of increasing of chia was to increase crude fiber content and decrease total carbohydrate and total energy value. All samples were within the microbiological food standards established by current legislation. All PB formulations obtained a good overall impression index and all characteristics were above mean grades, with the exception of taste (63%) in the PB containing 0% chia. Chia grain has a positive influence on sensory aspects and appears to be an alternative way to increase the nutritional quality of high-protein diet bars.

The susceptibility of concepts to chemical agents varies a lot at each development stage. Because of that, most countries started requiring the analysis of potential to affect all aspects of reproduction (spermatogenesis, mating, pregnancy, birth and lactation) for the development of new drugs and herbal medicines. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of the hydroethanolic extract of Simaba ferruginea St. Hil ("calunga") (EHSF) on female Wistar rats treated during pregnancy in order to check the interference on the intrauterine development of the offspring. The rats were treated with EHSF 50 and 100 mg/kg-1or distilled water, as follows: a) from day 1 to day 6 of pregnancy (period of blastocytes formation and implantation); b) from day 8 to day 16 of pregnancy (embryonic phase of organogenesis); c) from day 15 to day 19 of pregnancy (fetal development phase). The treatment from day 1 to day 6 showed reduction on the amount of fetuses with both doses and it did not alter neither the weight of the uterus / ovary nor the body weight of the mothers. When the female rats were treated in the organogenesis phase, it was verified both statistical significant decrease on the number of live fetuses for the 50 mg / Kg-1, and also appearance of dead fetuses in 30% of the female rats treated with EHSF 50 mg / Kg-1. In 20% of the female rats treated with 100 mg / Kg-1, there was no alteration neither in the weight of the uterus / ovary or in the body weight of the matrixes. Finally, the treatment in the fetal period did not affect the number of live descendants, or caused anatomical malformations visible to naked eye and fetal reabsorption. However, 10% of the mothers treated with 50 mg / Kg-1presented 2 dead fetuses and 20% of the mothers who had 100 mg / Kg-1showed, on average, 4 dead fetuses. With this data, we can conclude that EHSF presents low maternal toxicity for Wistar rats, although being fatal to some descendants, not mattering in which pregnancy phase the treatments have been performed, being more evident in the earlier phases. For this reason, it is recommended to avoid the use of this plant in pregnancy case.

This study assessed the effect of whey protein substitution with isolated soy protein in protein bar (PB) formulations at 25% (PB2), 50% (PB3), or 75% (PB1) weight/weight on the proximate and mineral composition, sensory, and antidiabetic properties. Sensory evaluation was conducted within diabetic (DB) and non-diabetic (NDB) consumers by preference ranking and acceptance test. The formulations were analysed in terms of moisture, ash, protein, lipid, carbohydrates, fibers and mineral content. The consumers did not distinguish the formulations by preference ranking test. However, the acceptability test showed a rating of 9 most frequent for PB1 (36.30%), followed by PB2 and PB3 (both 34.09%), among DB consumers. The PB1 and PB3 showed higher content of total, soluble and insoluble fibers and, PB 2 presented higher carbohydrate content. Potassium, sodium and calcium showed the highest mineral content in the formulations. PB3 was assessed for glycaemic and lipidemic control in diabetics and non-diabetics female Wistar rats, for this 20% of PB was added in the ration consumed ad libitum, besides, the rats received 100 mg/kg b. w. by gavage daily. The treatment did not reduce significantly fasting glucose, lipid profile, or peripheral glucose disposal in DB or NDB rats. However, it significantly improved insulin tolerance test values in diabetic rats. The results suggest that the formulations showed good acceptance and potentially ameliorate insulin resistance both in control group and in animal model of type II diabetes.

Buriti is a fruit with potential for economic exploitation due to its nutritional components; however, there are few studies about their post-harvest characteristics. Thus, the aim of this study was to determine the physicochemical characteristics and analyze the antioxidant activity of Buriti pulp. Fruits were harvested at full maturity stage, sanitized, pulped and stored under refrigeration until freezing. Then, pulp was submitted to the following analyses: moisture, protein, total carbohydrates and reducing carbohydrates, ashes, lipids, crude fiber, water activity, titratable acidity (TA), pH, color, ß-carotene, a-carotene, antioxidant activity and total energy value (TEV). Analyses were performed in triplicate, and the mean, standard deviation and variation coefficient were determined. Fruit pulp presented 0.98 of water activity, TA of 8.82g/100 g of citric acid, pH 3.78, 59.69% of moisture, 20.92% of fat, 8.56 % of crude fiber, 1.04% of ash, 7.28% of total carbohydrates, 4.50% of reducing carbohydrates, 9098µg/100g of ß carotene and 10086µg/100g of a-carotene. TEV found was 228.28 kcal/100g, the color analysis showed that the pulp has an average light tint value of L * = 59.69, with high hue H * = 68.36 and vivid color with C *= 62.03. Regarding the antioxidant activity, it was observed that Buriti is a fruit that can be used to combat oxidation, as it reduced by 82.42% the amount DPPH reagent used. RESUMO O Buriti é um fruto com potencial para exploração econômica, devido aos seus componentes nutricionais; no entanto, poucas são as pesquisas quanto a suas características pós-colheita. Sendo assim, o objetivo deste trabalho foi determinar as características físicas e químicas e analisar a atividade antioxidante da polpa de buriti. Os frutos foram colhidos em completo estádio de maturação, sanitizados, despolpados e armazenados sob refrigeração até o congelamento. Em seguida a polpa foi submetida às análises de umidade, proteína, glicídios totais e redutores, cinzas, lipídios, fibra bruta, atividade de água, acidez titulável (AT), pH, cor, ß caroteno, a caroteno, atividade antioxidante e valor energético total (VET). As análises foram realizadas em triplicata, sendo determinadas a média, desvio-padrão e o coeficiente de variação. A polpa da fruta apresentou valores de 0,98 para atividade de água, AT de 8,82 g/100g de ácido cítrico, pH de 3,78, 59,69% para umidade, 20,92% de lipídios, 8,56% de fibra bruta, 1,04% de cinzas, 7,28% de glicídios totais, 4,50% para glicídios redutores, 9098µg/100g de ß caroteno e 10086µg/100g de a caroteno. O VET encontrado foi de 229,28 Kcal/100g, a análise de cor mostrou que a polpa possui tonalidade clara com valor médio de L*=59,69, alta tonalidade cromática com H*= 68,36 e cor viva com C*= 62,03. Quanto à atividade antioxidante, observou-se que o buriti é um fruto que pode ser utilizado no combate a oxidação, pois reduziu em 82,42% a quantidade do reagente DPPH utilizado.

Bowdichia virgilioides H.B.K stem bark (Fabaceae), locally known as "sucupira-preta", is a reputed folk-remedy to treat some inflammatory disorders. To validate its traditional claim, the ethanolic extract from B. virgilioides was evaluated in several animal models of inflammation and nociception. The extract at oral doses of 100 to 1000 mg/kg body weight caused a significant inhibition of carrageenan-induced hind paw oedema, suppression of exudate volume and leukocyte immigration in rat pleurisy induced by carrageenan, and reduction of granuloma weights in the model of subcutaneous granulomas promoted by cotton pellets. In addition, the plant extract significantly inhibited the vascular permeability increase induced by intraperitoneal acetic acid. It also showed marked antinociceptive effect in acetic acid-induced writhing test and in the second phase of formalin test in mice. These findings evidence the anti-inflammatory potential of Bowdichia virgilioides bark and supports its traditional use in inflammatory conditions.A casca do caule de Bowdichia virgilioides H.B.K (Fabaceae), conhecida localmente como sucupira-preta, é um remédio popular muito utilizado para tratar inflamações. Com o objetivo de validar sua crença popular, o extrato etanólico de B. virgilioides foi avaliado em vários modelos experimentais de inflamação e nocicepção. O extrato administrado, via oral, em doses de 100 a 1000 mg/kg de peso corporal produziu inibição significativa no edema de pata induzido por carragenina, no aumento na permeabilidade vascular induzido por acido acético, no volume de exudato e na migração leucocitária no teste de pleurisia induzida por carragenina, bem como no peso de granulomas induzidos por pelotas de algodão, em ratos. Em camundongos, o EE Bv reduziu o número de contorções abdominais induzidas por ácido acético e a lambedura da pata na segunda fase do teste da formalina. Esses resultados validam o potencial anti-inflamatório da casca de Bowdichia virgilioides e referendam seu uso tradicional em condições inflamatórias.