Bixa orellana L., urucum, or urucu, a native tropical tree of Central and South American rain forests is used to treat various diseases in popular medicine. In Ceará, Northeast of Brazil, the seeds of urucum have been used for the treatment of high lipid blood levels. The present study investigated the effects of the aqueous extract from Bixa orellana seeds (AEBO) in mice with hyperlipidemia induced by tyloxapol, fructose and ethanol. In hyperlipidemia induced by Triton WR1339, 400 and 800 mg/kg AEBO reduced triglycerides (TG) serum levels at 24 h and 48 h. In the study of hypertriglyceridemia induced by fructose, AEBO in doses of 400 mg/kg and 800 mg/kg reduced TG levels by 48.2% and 48.7%, respectively. Finally, the ethanol experimental model with 400 mg/kg AEBO promoted a reduction of 33.6% of TG levels, while the 800 mg/kg concentration reduced hypertriglyceridemia in 62.2%. In conclusion, the aqueous extract of the seeds of Bixa orellana was capable of reversing the hypertriglyceridemia induced by Triton, fructose and ethanol, demonstrating a hypolipidemic effect. However, further studies are necessary to discover the precise mechanism of action.
Caffeic acid (CA) is a hydroxycinnamic acid, a group of natural organic phenolic compounds used in folk medicine and in foods for the prevention and treatment of obesity. CA is present in a variety of plants, as it is an intermediate in secondary metabolism. It is found in coffee, wine and olive oil. The aim of this work was to study the influence of caffeic acid (CA) on the reduction of intracellular lipid accumulation, intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) formation and in mitochondrial transmembrane potential alterations in differentiated 3T3-L1 cells. The pre-adipocyte cell line 3T3-L1 was differentiated using a differentiation cocktail. Cells were treated with CA, and the MTT assay was performed to assess the effect of CA on pre-adipocytes. The quantification of lipids accumulated within the mature cells was performed using Oil Red O dye. Flow cytometry was used to evaluate the production of ROS through 2',7'-dichlorofluorescein diacetate (DCFH-DA) oxidation and changes in mitochondrial transmembrane potential by Rhodamine 123 dye (Rho123). CA did not exhibit significant toxicity on the 3T3-L1 cell line at the studied concentrations. Caffeic acid causes significant reduction of lipid content in the cells submitted to the post-and co-treatment, being more effective in cotreatment. Caffeic acid results in an absolute decrease in the formation of intracytoplasmic reactive oxygen species. The treatment with caffeic acid protects against oxidative stress caused in the mitochondria by the adipocyte differentiation process. Thus, CA acts on adipogenesis, reducing intracellular lipid accumulation in the 3T3-L1 cells. It reduces intracellular ROS formation and mitochondrial transmembrane potential alterations in differentiated cells.
Obesity and dyslipidemia are conditions often associated with cardiovascular risk, inflammation, oxidative stress, and death. Thus, a new approach has been highlighted to promote research and development of pharmacological tools derived from natural sources. Among the most widely studied groups of substances, polyphenols such as tyramine stand out. This study investigated hypolipidemic and anti-obesity properties of tyramine. Oral toxicity evaluation, models of dyslipidemia and obesity were used. To induce dyslipidemia, Poloxamer-407 (P-407) was administered intraperitoneally. In the hypercholesterolemic and obesity model, specific diet and oral tyramine were provided. After 24h of P-407 administration, tyramine 2 mg/kg (T2) decreased triglycerides (TG) (2057.0 ± 158.5 mg/dL vs. 2838 ± 168.3 mg/dL). After 48h, TG were decreased by T2 (453.0 ± 35.47 vs. 760.2 ± 41.86 mg/dL) and 4 mg/kg (T4) (605.8 ± 26.61 760.2 ± 41.86 mg/dL). T2 reduced total cholesterol (TC) after 24h (309.0 ± 11.17 mg/dL vs. 399.7 ± 15.7 mg/dL); After 48h, 1 mg/kg (T1) (220.5 ± 12.78 mg/dL), T2 (205.8 ± 7.1 mg/dL) and T4 (216.8 ± 12.79 mg/dL), compared to P-407 (275.5 ± 12.1 mg/dL). The treatment decreased thiobarbituric acid reactive substances and nitrite in liver, increased superoxide dismutase, reduced the dietinduced dyslipidemia, decreasing TC around 15%. Tyramine reduced body mass, glucose, and TC after hypercaloric feed. Treatment with 5 mg/L (0.46 ± 0.04 ng/dL) and 10 mg/L (0.44 ± 0.02 ng/dL) reduced plasma insulin (1.18 ± 0.23 ng/dL). Tyramine increased adiponectin at 5 mg/L (1.02 ± 0.02 vs. 0.83 ± 0.02 ng/mL) and 10mg/L (0.96 ± 0.04 ng/mL). In conclusion, tyramine has low toxicity in rodents, has antioxidant effect, reduces plasma triglycerides and cholesterol levels. However, further studies should be conducted in rodents and non-rodents to better understand the pharmacodynamic and pharmacokinetic properties of tyramine.
Hypertriglyceridemia is associated with several metabolic diseases. The triglycerides (TG) disrupt the cholesterol reverse transport and contribute to increased levels of low-density lipoprotein (LDL). High-density lipoprotein (HDL) acts in cholesterol reverse transport as an antiinflammatory and antioxidant. This study aims to investigate the role of hypertriglyceridemia in the functionality of HDL. Individuals were divided into 4 groups based on high or low HDL-c and triglycerides levels. Biochemical and anthropometric analysis were performed. This study demonstrated that triglycerides promote dysfunctions on HDL, increasing the cardiovascular risk. Blood pressure was higher in subjects with low HDL. Women presented higher levels of HDL-c and low percentage of fat mass. The highest levels of triglycerides were observed in older age. In addition, high levels of triglycerides were associated with higher total cholesterol and LDL-c levels, non-HDL-c, non-esterified fatty acids, and blood glucose, increasing in the ratio of non-HDL-c/HDL-c and ApoB/ApoA-I. The increase of triglycerides levels progressively impairs the antioxidant capacity of HDL, probably due to a higher occurrence of fatty acid peroxidation in individuals with hypertriglyceridemia. Patients with high HDL and low TG levels increased the Lag Time. Furthermore, a positive correlation was found between TG versus HDL particle size, variables that depend on age and anthropometric parameters.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.
hi@scite.ai
10624 S. Eastern Ave., Ste. A-614
Henderson, NV 89052, USA
Copyright © 2024 scite LLC. All rights reserved.
Made with 💙 for researchers
Part of the Research Solutions Family.