Antidiabetic and Antilipidemic Effects of Manilkara zapota

Sandra Maria Barbalho,Patrı´cia Cincotto dos Santos Bueno,De´bora Souza Delazari,Elen Landgraf Guiguer,,Daniel Pereira Coqueiro,Adriano Cressoni Arau´jo,Maricelma da Silva Soares de Souza,Fla´via M.V. 한국식품영양과학회 2015 Journal of medicinal food Vol.18 No.3

Manilkara zapota is a tropical evergreen tree belonging to the Sapotaceae family; its parts are used in alternative medicine to treat coughs and colds and possess diuretic, antidiarrheal, antibiotic, antihyperglycemic, and hypocholesterolemic effects. There are no studies on metabolic profile after using the fruit, and this study aimed at evaluating the effects of the leaf and pulp of M. zapota fruit on the metabolic profile of Wistar rats. Male rats were treated for 50 days with M. zapota leaf juice or fruit juice, after which their biochemical and body composition profiles were analyzed (glycemia, triglycerides, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-c), insulin, leptin, aspartate transaminase, alanine aminotransferase, Lee Index, and body mass index). Our results indicate significantly lower levels of glycemia, insulin, leptin, cholesterol, and triglycerides and augmented levels of HDL-c in animals treated with the leaves or fruit of this plant. The percentage of weight gain also declined in animals treated with M. zapota fruit pulp. The use of the M. zapota may be helpful in the prevention of obesity, diabetes, dyslipidemia, and their complications.

Reflections About Inflammatory Bowel Disease and Vitamins A and D

Sandra Maria Barbalho,Marcelo Dib Bechara,Ricardo de Alvares Goulart,Karina Quesada,Rodrigo Galhardi Gasparini,Antonely de Cassio Alves de Carvalho,Adriana Maria Ragassi Fiorini 한국식품영양과학회 2016 Journal of medicinal food Vol.19 No.12

Ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease are two major forms of the inflammatory bowel diseases (IBDs). Vitamin A (VA) and vitamin D (VD) may be associated with reduction in inflammation in these disorders. The aim of this review was to show the current evidence that may associate VA and VD with IBDs. Data linking VA, VD, and IBDs were studied. Both VA and VD may be related to the immune system in different manners. The active form of VA, retinoic acid, may be related to the growth factor-β and release of interleukin-10 (IL-10), thus involved with the resolution of the inflammation. Its deficiency is associated with the increase of disease activity. The active form of VD is 1,25(OH)2D3 that produces biological effects via the nuclear hormone receptor named VD receptor (VDR), which may interfere with the immune cells and macrophages leading to the suppression of the inflammatory process by decreasing the release of TNF-α, IL-1, IL-6, and IL-8, IL-12, and IL-23. VDR may also activate nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain 2 expression and stimulate the production of the defensin and cathelicidin that are important to the homeostasis of the mucosal immune barrier. The use of VA and VD could be helpful in the treatment and prevention of IBDs but more studies are necessary to establish the precise role of these compounds in the prevention or remission of these inflammatory processes.

Sweet Basil (Ocimum basilicum): much more than a condiment

Sandra Maria Barbalho,Flávia Maria Vasques Farinazzi Machado,Jaqueline dos Santos Rodrigues,Tiago Henrique Pereira da Silva,Ricardo de Alvares Goulart 셀메드 세포교정의약학회 2012 셀메드 (CellMed) Vol.2 No.1

Ocimum basilicum belongs to the family Lamiaceae and can be found in tropical Asia, Africa, Central America and South America. It is widely cultivated commercially as a condiment or for the production of essential oil. In this review, this plant is accredited with important effects on health, in addition to being a condiment. In folk medicine it is used to treat vomiting, intestinal colic and diarrhea, menstrual pains and to improve kidney function. Some studies have demonstrated that it can be used for the treatment of hyperlipidemia and also that it has antioxidant, neuroprotective, anti-inflammatory and vasodilator properties as well as hepatoprotective effects. In view of its broad range of effects, further studies should be conducted to ascertain the possible use of this plant in clinical trials, not only for prevention but also as an adjuvant in the treatment of different diseases.

Annona montana Fruit and Leaves Improve the Glycemic and Lipid Profiles of Wistar Rats

Sandra Maria Barbalho,Maricelma da Silva Soares de Souza,Patrı´cia Cincotto dos Santos Bueno,Elen Landgraf Guiguer,,Fla´via Maria Vasques Farinazzi-Machado,Adriano Cressoni Arau´jo,Carla Omete Menegui 한국식품영양과학회 2012 Journal of medicinal food Vol.15 No.10

Species of the family Annonaceae has been used traditionally as a medicinal plant in tropical regions of South and North America and in Africa. Annona montana is known popularly as false graviola and originates from tropical America and can be cultivated throughout Brazil. There are no studies in the literature that associate A. montana with the metabolic profile of animals. Therefore, the purpose of this work was to assess the effects of the consumption of pulp and leaves of this plant on the metabolic profile of Wistar rats. The animals, which were treated for 40 days, were divided into two control groups—treated with water via gavage and ad libitum, respectively, and two treated groups—one treated with leaf juice and the other with pulp juice of the fruit. Glycemia, lipids, and body weight were found to decrease and high density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-c) levels to increase in the animals treated with leaf juice. The group treated with pulp juice showed a reduction in lipids and augmented HDL-c. The use of A. montana may have beneficial effects in the prevention of diabetes mellitus and dyslipidemia and may thus contribute to the prevention of cardiovascular diseases.

Pereskia aculeata Miller Flour: Metabolic Effects and Composition

Sandra Maria Barbalho,Elen Landgraf Guiguer,Paulo Sergio Marinelli,Patrı´cia Cincotto do Santos Bueno,Leticia Maria Pescinini-Salzedas,Mirele Cristine Batista dos Santos,Marie Oshiiwa,Claudemir Gregor 한국식품영양과학회 2016 Journal of medicinal food Vol.19 No.9

Pereskia aculeata Miller is known in Brazil as ora-pro-nobis (OPN) and has been used commonly in the folklore medicine. The purpose of our study was to evaluate the composition and the effects of OPN flour on the metabolic profile and intestinal motility of Wistar rats. Animals were divided randomly into five groups (n = 10): G1 (control group) and G2 (treated with OPN flour). For the intestinal motility: G3 (control group), G4 (treated with senne), and G5 (treated with OPN flour). After 40 days, G1 and G2 were euthanized and metabolic profiles were analyzed (glycemia, cholesterol, triglycerides, high density lipoprotein [HDL-c], C reactive protein, AST, ALT, Lee Index, weight, and visceral fat). The flour of OPN was effective in reducing percentage of weight gain, visceral fat, levels of total cholesterol, triglycerides, low density lipoprotein, very low density lipoprotein, and increased HDL-c. Significance was also found in the distance covered by the activated charcoal from the pylorus to the beginning of the cecum, which was higher in animals treated with OPN. Our results indicate that OPN flour may bring health benefits, as the improvement of the intestinal motility, and it is associated with reduction of visceral fat and lipid profile, as well as the increase of HDL-c levels. With these results, we may suggest that the incorporation of this flour in different industrial products may be a convenient and effective way for the intake of healthier products.

Inflammatory Bowel Diseases and Fermentable Oligosaccharides, Disaccharides, Monosaccharides, and Polyols: An Overview

Sandra Maria Barbalho,Ricardo de Alvares Goulart,Ana Luıza de Carvalho Aranao,Pamela Grazielle Correa de Oliveira 한국식품영양과학회 2018 Journal of medicinal food Vol.21 No.7

Inflammatory bowel diseases (IBDs) are mainly represented by ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease, and the increase in the incidence tends to follow the rapid industrialization and lifestyle of modern societies. FODMAP (fermentable oligosaccharides, disaccharides, monosaccharides, and polyols) consist of molecules that are poorly absorbed in the small intestine and are fermented by bacteria in the colon leading to symptoms such as bloating, flatulence, diarrhea, and abdominal pain. Reduction of the ingestion of FODMAP could reduce the symptoms and improve the quality of life. This review aimed to summarize some important aspects of IBD and evaluate the effects of this diet on this inflammatory condition. Studies including the term FODMAP (and similar terms) and IBD were selected for this review (MEDLINE database was used PubMed/PMC). A low FODMAP diet may be an effective tool to the management of the common abdominal symptoms in patients with functional gastrointestinal symptoms once these molecules trigger these symptoms. This diet may also reduce the expression of pro-inflammatory markers such as C-reactive protein and fecal calprotectin and may interfere with the microbiome and its metabolites. The use of a low FODMAP diet can bring benefits to the IBD patients, but may also modify their nutritional status. Thus it should be utilized in appropriated conditions, and dietary supplements should be necessary to avoid deficiencies that could be caused by a low FODMAP diet over long periods. We suggest that further investigations are required to elucidate when and how to apply the FODMAP diet in IBD patients.

Effects of Passiflora edulis on the Metabolic Profile of Diabetic Wistar Rat Offspring

Sandra M. Barbalho,De´bora C. Damasceno,Ana Paula Machado Spada,Ira Eliane dos R.N. Lima,Adriano Cressoni Arau´jo,Elen Landgraf Guiguer,Karla Aparecida Martuchi,Marie Oshiiwa,Claudemir Gregorio Mendes 한국식품영양과학회 2011 Journal of medicinal food Vol.14 No.12

Dry extract of the genus Passiflora has been shown to help control glycemia and lipid levels. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of passion fruit (P. edulis) on the biochemical profile of offspring from diabetic rats. Diabetes was induced by streptozotocin. The diabetes group consisted of 10 rats with glucose levels greater than 200 mg/dL;the nondiabetic (control) group consisted of 10 rats with glucose levels less than 120 mg/dL. After the diagnosis of diabetes,the mating phase was started. By day 21 of pregnancy, the offspring were born; the dams were kept in individual cages with their offspring until the weaning period. The offspring were then divided into 4 groups (n = 15 each): G1 were offspring from control dams, G2 were offspring from treated nondiabetic dams, G3 were offspring from diabetic dams, and G4 were offspring from treated diabetic dams. For 30 consecutive days, G1 and G3 offspring were treated with vehicle (oral gavage) and G2 and G4 offspring were treated with passion fruit juice (oral gavage). After 30-day treatment, the animals were anesthetized and killed, and blood was drawn immediately for analysis of the biochemical profile (total cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, triglycerides, and glucose). The G2 and G4 rats showed significantly reduced total cholesterol, triglyceride, and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels and an increased high-density lipoprotein cholesterol level. The use of passion fruit juice improved lipid profiles, suggesting that this plant may have beneficial effects in the prevention and treatment of dyslipidemias and hyperglycemia.

Effects of the Use of Curcumin on Ulcerative Colitis and Crohn's Disease: A Systematic Review

Ricardo de Alvares Goulart,Sandra M. Barbalho,Vinícius Marinho Lima,Gabriela Achete de Souza,Julia Novaes Matias,Adriano Cressoni Araújo,Cláudio José Rubira,Rogério Leone Buchaim,Daniela Vieira Buchai 한국식품영양과학회 2021 Journal of medicinal food Vol.24 No.7

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is an umbrella term used to describe chronic inflammatory disorders related to a substantial reduction in the quality of life of patients. Some patients with Crohn's disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC) are refractory to conventional therapies, and Curcuma longa derivatives have been considered as adjuvants. Owing to the anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects, some clinical trials used this plant in the therapeutic approach of IBD, and some meta-analyses evaluated the outcomes found in these studies. Owing to controversial findings, our systematic review aimed to evaluate these studies to show whether C. longa compounds can still be considered in the therapeutic approach of patients with CD and UC. MEDLINE-PubMed, EMBASE, and Cochrane were searched, and Preferred Reporting Items for a Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis guidelines were followed. The results of the randomized clinical trials (RCTs) showed promising results with the use of curcumin in the therapeutic approach of both UC and CD patients. Some meta-analyses show controversial results, possibly due to the presence of bias in the included studies. The actions of curcumin are achieved by several mechanisms, such as reducing the expression of interleukin (IL)-1, IL-6, IL-12, and tumor necrosis factor-α. Moreover, it reduces the levels of reactive oxygen species, such as superoxide anions and malondialdehyde. The results of using curcumin in CD and UC patients are challenging to be evaluated because RCTs are variable in the dose and the formulations of curcumin, in the time of treatment, and the route of administration. The number of patients in the samples is also usually small.

Dipteryx alata Vogel May Improve Lipid Profile and Atherogenic Indices in Wistar Rats Dipteryx alata and Atherogenic Indices

Adriana Maria Ragassi Fiorini,Sandra Maria Barbalho,Elen Landgraf Guiguer,Marie Oshiiwa,Claudemir Gregorio Mendes,Rogerio Lopes Vieites,Agnaldo Bruno Chies,Priscilla Bianca de Oliveira,Maricelma da Si 한국식품영양과학회 2017 Journal of medicinal food Vol.20 No.11

Worldwide prevalence of noncommunicable chronic degenerative diseases is among the main causes of death worldwide. The consumption of some foods such as nuts and seeds may be beneficial in preventing these diseases. Dipteryx alata Vogel (DA), known popularly as Baru, belongs to the family Fabaceae and is a native fruit tree from the Brazilian savanna. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the use of seeds of DA on the metabolic and oxidative profile of Wistar rats. Animals were divided randomly into four groups (n = 10): G1 (control group), and G2 (treated with DA 20%), G3 (treated with DA 30%), and G4 (treated with DA 40%). After 40 days, animals were euthanized and metabolic and oxidative profiles were analyzed (glycemia, cholesterol, triglycerides [TGs], high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol [HDL-c], very low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol [VLDL-c], low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol [LDL-c], C reactive protein, aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, Lee index, weight, visceral fat, ferric reducing ability of plasma, and ferric–xylenol orange method. The use of the seeds was effective in reducing TGs, VLDL-c, LDL-c, and increasing HDL-c but did not interfere in the percentage of weight gain, visceral fat, levels of total cholesterol, and oxidative stress. Based on our results, it is possible to say that the use of DA may improve the lipid profile of Wistar rats and we may suggest that the consumption of DA almonds or products prepared with them may be an effective option for the intake of healthy products.

Is Curcumin a Possibility to Treat Inflammatory Bowel Diseases?

Rafaela Mazieiro,Renata Reis Frizon,Sandra Maria Barbalho,Ricardo de Alvares Goulart 한국식품영양과학회 2018 Journal of medicinal food Vol.21 No.11

The inflammatory bowel diseases (IBDs) are mainly represented by Crohn's disease and Ulcerative colitis that are characterized by chronic and relapsing inflammatory processes of the gastrointestinal system. Curcuma longa L. is a plant with several medicinal properties, including anti-inflammatory effects, and curcumin is the most important compound derived from its rhizomes. As curcumin has remarkable anti-inflammatory actions, the aim of this work is to review the potential use of this compound in IBD patients. We consulted MEDLINE (PubMed/PMC), and the literature search was performed with the following combinations of terms “Inflammatory Bowel Diseases” and “Curcumin,” “Crohn's Disease” and “Curcumin,” “Ulcerative colitis” and “Curcumin.” The inclusion criteria were articles that showed original studies with human models and the exclusion criteria were not full-text articles, articles not in English, poster presentations, letters, editorials, and articles not available. Curcumin interacts with receptors, growth and transcription factors, cytokines, enzymes, and genes leading to inhibitory effects on cyclooxygenase-1, tumor necrosis factor-α, interferon-γ, inducible nitric oxide synthase, transcriptional nuclear factor kappa B, and many other molecules associated with inflammatory processes. These molecules are critical factors in the positive regulation of inflammatory cytokines in inflammatory diseases, suggesting that curcumin may be considered as a new therapeutic agent for patients with IBD. Curcumin is a natural anti-inflammatory agent that represents an attractive, safe and inexpensive alternative for the treatment of IBD. Nevertheless, it is necessary to know the efficient and safe dose and consider its poor absorption.