Acerola (Malpighia emarginata DC.) juice intake protects against alterations to proteins involved in inflammatory and lipolysis pathways in the adipose tissue of obese mice fed a cafeteria diet

Abstract

BackgroundObesity has been studied as a metabolic and an inflammatory disease and is characterized by increases in the production of pro-inflammatory adipokines in the adipose tissue.To elucidate the effects of natural dietary components on the inflammatory and metabolic consequences of obesity, we examined the effects of unripe, ripe and industrial acerola juice (Malpighia emarginata DC.) on the relevant inflammatory and lipolysis proteins in the adipose tissue of mice with cafeteria diet-induced obesity.Materials/methodsTwo groups of male Swiss mice were fed on a standard diet (STA) or a cafeteria diet (CAF) for 13 weeks. Afterwards, the CAF-fed animals were divided into five subgroups, each of which received a different supplement for one further month (water, unripe acerola juice, ripe acerola juice, industrial acerola juice, or vitamin C) by gavage. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays, Western blotting, a colorimetric method and histology were utilized to assess the observed data.ResultsThe CAF water (control obese) group showed a significant increase in their adiposity indices and triacylglycerol levels, in addition to a reduced IL-10/TNF-α ratio in the adipose tissue, compared with the control lean group. In contrast, acerola juice and Vitamin C intake ameliorated the weight gain, reducing the TAG levels and increasing the IL-10/TNF-α ratio in adipose tissue. In addition, acerola juice intake led to reductions both in the level of phosphorylated JNK and to increases in the phosphorylation of IκBα and HSLser660 in adipose tissue.ConclusionsTaken together, these results suggest that acerola juice reduces low-grade inflammation and ameliorates obesity-associated defects in the lipolytic processes.

Protective effects of acerola juice on genotoxicity induced by iron in vivo

“…Thus, pre-treatment with acerola juice protected the blood cells against DNA damage generated by FeSO4 Although the main positive aspect of acerola fruit is its high vitamin C content, it also presents large quantities of antioxidants, such as carotenoids, flavonoids, and anthocyanins ( Chaves et al, 2004 ; Nóbrega et al, 2014 ; Silva et al, 2014 ). Some studies stated that the antioxidant potential of acerola juice depended on its content of phenolic compounds and vitamin C ( Leffa et al, 2013 ; Dias et al, 2014 ; Paz et al, 2015 ). Vitamin C has been studied for its protective action against different diseases ( Folchetti etal.…”

Vitamin E Modifies High-Fat Diet-Induced Increase of DNA Strand Breaks, and Changes in Expression and DNA Methylation of Dnmt1 and MLH1 in C57BL/6J Male Mice

“…Several earlier findings with rodent and humans indicate that obesity induces low-grade inflammatory processes in the following genomic instability [ 29 , 30 , 31 ]. One of the strategies to prevent adverse effects of obesity and co-morbidities may be nutritional interventions.…”

Acerola (Malpighia emarginata DC.) Juice Intake Suppresses UVB-Induced Skin Pigmentation in SMP30/GNL Knockout Hairless Mice

“…Previously, acerola has been demonstrated to exhibit beneficial effects, such as anti-mutagenic activity, an anti-hyperglycemic effect, and an in vivo anti-inflammatory effect [18–21]. Because little is known about the protective effects of AJ intake in UVB-damaged skin, we examined the effects of AJ intake on the skin of SMP30/GNL KO hairless mice.…”

“…Other studies have also indicated that acerola has antioxidant activity using a 1, 1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl radical scavenging assay [16, 46, 47]. Some studies have reported that the antioxidant activity of acerola juice depends on its polyphenols and AA contents [21, 48]. Because there was no difference in AA content between the AA (+) and AJ groups, as illustrated in Fig 1, various polyphenols from acerola juice may contribute to the reduction of UVB-induced skin pigmentation.…”

“…The contents of glucose, fructose, malic acid, total polyphenols and total amino acids in acerola was 15 to 16, 14 to 16, 4 to 5, 1.2 to 1.5, and 1.8 to 2.1 g/kg edible portion, respectively [17]. It has been demonstrated that acerola intake exerts protective effects against DNA damage generated by FeSO 4 [18], inhibits lung tumorigenesis induced by nicotine-derived nitrosamine ketone [19], regulates blood glucose levels and exerts anti-inflammatory effects in obese mice [20, 21]. Similarly, we have demonstrated a beneficial effect of acerola in humans; i.e., the intake of acerola juice (AJ) affects the absorption of AA in plasma and minimizes its excretion via urine in healthy Japanese subjects, which suggests improvement of the bioavailability of AA in humans [22].…”