BackgroundThe babassu palm tree is native to Brazil and is most densely distributed in the Cocais region of the state of Maranhão, in northeastern Brazil. In addition to the industrial use of refined babassu oil, the milk, the unrefined oil and the nuts in natura are used by families from several communities of African descendants as one of the principal sources of food energy. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of babassu oil on microvascular permeability and leukocyte-endothelial interactions induced by ischemia/reperfusion using the hamster cheek pouch microcirculation as experimental model.MethodsTwice a day for 14 days, male hamsters received unrefined babassu oil (0.02 ml/dose [BO-2 group], 0.06 ml/dose [BO-6 group], 0.18 ml/dose [BO-18 group]) or mineral oil (0.18 ml/dose [MO group]). Observations were made in the cheek pouch and macromolecular permeability increase induced by ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) or topical application of histamine, as well as leukocyte-endothelial interaction after I/R were evaluated.ResultsThe mean value of I/R-induced microvascular leakage, determined during reperfusion, was significantly lower in the BO-6 and BO-18 groups than in the MO one (P < 0.001). In addition, histamine-induced increase of microvascular permeability was significantly less pronounced in BO groups compared to MO one. No significant differences among groups in terms of leukocyte adhesion, concentrations of tumor necrosis factor alpha, interleukin 1, and interleukin 6 were found.ConclusionsOur findings suggest that unrefined babassu oil reduced microvascular leakage and protected against histamine-induced effects in postcapillary venules and highlights that these almost unexploited nut and its oil might be secure sources of food energy.

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A composição de ácidos graxos de seis amostras de Orbignya phalerata de diferentes cidades do estado do Maranhão foi estudada. Os óleos foram extraídos utilizando extrator Soxhlet por duas metodologias e a composição de ácidos graxos foi avaliada por cromatografia gasosa-espectrometria de massas (CG-EM). O teor da fração de lipídios revelou que o solvente usado influencia na extração, sendo a maior porcentagem obtida com hexano. O teor de lipídios variou de 62,46-67,45%, com predominância de ácidos graxos saturados (80,32-87,80%), principalmente ácido láurico (C12:0) com percentual de 44,86-52,15%. A análise multivariada mostrou a distribuição das amostras de O. phalerata em três regiões distintas e sugere que a composição química dos óleos pode estar associada com a sua localização geográfica. Estes dados mostram o conhecimento da biodiversidade de ácidos graxos de O. phalerata entre as diferentes regiões do estado do Maranhão.The fatty acid composition of six Orbignya phalerata samples of different cities from Maranhão State (Brazil) was studied. The oils were extracted by two methods using Soxhlet extractor and the fatty acid composition was evaluated by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis. The lipid fraction content showed that the solvent used influences lipid extraction, the highest percent was obtained with hexane. Lipid content ranged from 62.46-67.45%, with predominance of saturated fatty acids (80.32-87.80%), mainly lauric acid (C12:0) with 44.86 to 52.15%. Multivariate analysis showed the distribution of O. phalerata samples into three distinct regions and suggests that the oil chemical composition may be associated with their geographic location. These data show knowledge of the biodiversity of O. phalerata fatty acids among the different regions of the Maranhão State (Brazil). The babassu fruits are oval and elongated weighing 90-280 g. The fruit contains epicarp (11% in mass), mesocarp (23% in mass) and endocarp (59% in mass) with 3-4 nuts (7% in mass), which are rich in triacylglycerols (> 60% in mass), with predominance of lauric acid (C12:0) and minerals (Al, Ba, Ca, Cu, Fe, K, Mg, Mn, Sr and Zn). 2,3 The babassu nut is one of the non-timber products that stood out the most out in production value, concentrating the total of extractive production in the Brazilian Northeast (99.4%), making the Maranhão State the largest producer of babassu nuts, corresponding to 54.6% of national output in 2010. 4 According to the Brazilian Agricultural Research Corporation (EMBRAPA), 5 the economic potential of babassu fruits, especially its nuts, as well as its oil, is largely used in pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, food and medicinal uses. Souza et al. 6 reported that in the traditional medicine of Northeast Brazil, babassu-derived products are mainly used in some diseases, such as inflammation process. Although, babassu oil presents several industrial applications, for example biodiesel production, 7 the chemical knowledge is necessary to ensure quality and better exploitation of biomass. Keywo...

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Diets rich in omega-3 or -6 fatty acids will produce different profiles for cell membranes phospholipid constitutions. Omegas 3 and 6 are part of the diet and can modulate the inflammatory profile. We evaluated the effects of the oral absorption of fish oil, when associated with a lipid nanoemulsion in an experimental pulmonary inflammatory model. Pulmonary fibrosis is a disease associated with excessive extracellular matrix deposition. We determined to investigate the morphophysiological mechanisms in mice that were pretreated after induction with bleomycin (BLM). The pretreatment was for 21 days with saline solution, sunflower oil (SO), fish oil (FO), and fish oil nanoemulsion (NEW3). The animals received a daily dose of 50 mg/Kg of docosahexaenoic acid DHA and 10 mg/Kg eicosapentaenoic (EPA) (100 mg/Kg), represented by a daily dose of 40 µL of NEW3. The blank group was treated with the same amount daily (40 µL) during the 21 days of pretreatment. The animals were treated with SO and FO, 100 mg/Kg (containing 58 mg/Kg of polyunsaturated fats/higher% linoleic acid) and 100 mg/Kg (50 mg/Kg of DHA and 10 mg/Kg EPA), respectively. A single dose of 5 mg/mL (50 μL) bleomycin sulfate, by the intratracheal surgical method in BALB/cAnNTac (BALB/c). NEW3 significantly reduced fibrotic progression, which can be evidenced by the protection from loss of body mass, increase in respiratory incursions per minute, decreased spacing of alveolar septa, decreased severity of fibrosis, and changes in the respiratory system. NEW3 attenuated the inflammatory changes developed in the experimental model of pulmonary fibrosis, while group SO showed a significant increase in inflammatory changes. This concluded that the presented results demonstrated that is possible to positively modulate the immune and inflamamtory response to an external agressor, by changing the nutitional intake of specific fatty acids, such as omega-3 placed in fish oil. Moreover, these benefits can be improved by the nanoencapsulation of fish oil in lipid nanoemulsions.

Resumo: Este trabalho teve como objetivo analisar as características físico-químicas de óleos e as características morfométricas de frutos e sementes (amêndoas) do babaçu (Orbignya phalerata Martius), por região ecológica do estado do Maranhão. Para isso, foram obtidas amostras de babaçu oriundas das regiões: Litoral, Cocais, Baixada, Cerrado e Pré-Amazônia maranhense e analisados os parâmetros físico-químicos: índice de acidez, índice de saponificação, índice de refração e umidade. Das mesmas regiões foram coletados, para análise das características morfométricas, frutos inteiros e de amêndoas da espécie estudada. Os resultados apontam que os índices de acidez estão dentro do limite máximo estabelecido pela norma nacional da ANVISA (2009); os índices de saponificação indicam a presença de lipídeos (ácidos graxos) de médio a alto peso molecular na composição química dos óleos, os resultados refratométricos estão condizentes com as normais atuais vigentes e o teor de umidade foi inferior a 1%. Os lotes de babaçu Orbignya phalerata Martius não apresentaram variabilidade significativa (p>0,05) em tamanho (cm) para os frutos e amêndoas por região. Os parâmetros físico-químicos dos óleos aqui avaliados poderão contribuir com as indústrias que utilizam o óleo de babaçu em seus produtos manufaturados. As características morfométricas dos frutos inteiros e das amêndoas da espécie estudada poderão contribuir para propostas de produção de máquinas úteis para a quebra do coco babaçu. (2009), the saponification indices indicate the presence of medium to high molecular weight lipids (fatty acids) in the chemical composition of the oils; the results refractometers are in line with current standards and the moisture content was less than 1%. The Orbignya phalerata Martius babassu lots did not present significant variability (p> 0.05) in size (cm) for fruits and almonds by region. The physical-chemical parameters of the oils evaluated here may contribute to the industries that use babassu oil in their manufactured products. The morphometric characteristics of the whole fruits and the almonds of the studied species may contribute to the production of useful machines for the breaking of babassu coconut. Palavras

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A presente dissertação, submetida à Comissão Examinadora abaixo, foi aprovada para obtenção do grau de Mestre em Nanociência e Nanobiotecnologia. Brasília-(DF), 01 de setembro 2015.