Euterpe edulis Extract but Not Oil Enhances Antioxidant Defenses and Protects against Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease Induced by a High‐Fat Diet in Rats

Abstract

We investigated the effects of E. edulis bioproducts (lyophilized pulp [LEE], defatted lyophilized pulp [LDEE], and oil [EO]) on nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) induced by a high-fat diet (HFD) in rats. All products were chemically analyzed. In vivo, 42 rats were equally randomized into seven groups receiving standard diet, HFD alone or combined with EO, LEE, or LDEE. After NAFLD induction, LEE, LDEE, or EO was added to the animals' diet for 4 weeks. LEE was rich in polyunsaturated fatty acids. From LEE degreasing, LDEE presented higher levels of anthocyanins and antioxidant capacity in vitro. Dietary intake of LEE and especially LDEE, but not EO, attenuated diet-induced NAFLD, reducing inflammatory infiltrate, steatosis, and lipid peroxidation in liver tissue. Although both E. edulis bioproducts were not hepatotoxic, only LDEE presented sufficient benefits to treat NAFLD in rats, possibly by its low lipid content and high amount of phenols and anthocyanins.

Euterpe edulis extracts positively modulates the redox status and expression of inflammatory mediators

“…Studies have shown that anthocyanins have a high antioxidant capacity and activate important pathways in the fight against metabolic reactors, which highlights its importance in the fight against cellular oxidation and consequently in the pathogenesis of cardiovascular diseases, hepatic diseases, diabetes and cancer. Thus, the analysis of foods rich in these compounds has been steadily growing because dietary supplementation with tropical fruit pulp rich in antioxidants has been presented as an effective curative and preventive therapy for the treatment of several conditions associated with pathological conditions (Felzenszwalb, da Costa Marques, Mazzei, & Aiub, 2013;Freitas et al, 2016;Pereira et al, 2014;. The fruits of jussara contain two main anthocyanins identified as cyanidin 3-glucoside and cyanidin 3-rutinoside (Harborne, Saito, & Detoni, 1994), in addition to minor compounds such as cyanidin 3-sambubioside, pelargonidine 3-glycoside, cyanidin 3-rhamnoside and pelargonidine 3 rutinoside identified by LC-DAD-ESI/MS (Rufino et al, 2010).…”

“…The fruits of jussara contain two main anthocyanins identified as cyanidin 3-glucoside and cyanidin 3-rutinoside (Harborne, Saito, & Detoni, 1994), in addition to minor compounds such as cyanidin 3-sambubioside, pelargonidine 3-glycoside, cyanidin 3-rhamnoside and pelargonidine 3 rutinoside identified by LC-DAD-ESI/MS (Rufino et al, 2010). The lipid fraction obtained from the pulp of jussara (although little used) is also suitable for consumption due to its high content of polyunsaturated fatty acids, remarkable concentration of oleic acid, palmitic and linoleic acids, similar to E. oleraceae, and lower saturated lipid concentration compared to other oils (Freitas et al, 2016). The saturated fatty acids present in this fruit represent 24.32-28.89% of the total lipid content (Neida & Elba, 2007;Schauss et al, 2006).…”

An Update on the Biological Activities of Euterpe edulis (Juçara)

“…The groups that received pulp (defatted or not) attenuated the steatosis and lipid peroxidation in tissues, while the oil did not show the same effect. The most promising product appeared to be lyophilized pulp defatted, possibly due low lipid content and high ACNs and phenols [34]. Lipids are susceptible targets of oxidation because of their molecular structure, and their peroxidation is proposed as markers of lipid damage [35].…”

“…Considering the effect of the juçara extract on lipid peroxidation, some studies have demonstrated the attenuation of this biomarker of oxidative damage [15,34,40].…”

Type 2 Diabetes and Developmental Origin of Non-Alcohol Fatty Liver Disease and Future Directions of Treatment

“…Also, GP-treatment markedly decrease serum AST, ALP, insulin, and decrease the body mass index (BMI) and insulin resistance index [150]. Ombuin is a flavonoid isolated from GP showed a decrease of intracellular concentrations of triglyceride and cholesterol in liver cancer cells as well as reduce the expression of some biogenic genes through activating PPAR-α and ß/γ [151].…”