Histological Evaluation of Brain Tissue in Dyslipidemic Rats Treated with Dietary Supplements Based on Amazonian Fruits

Aims: By using histological analysis, the study aims to evaluate the effect of a nutraceutical based on the Amazonian fruits of camu-camu (Myrciaria dubia (Kunth) Mc Vaugh), acai (Euterpe precatoria Mart.) and guarana (Paullinia cupana) on the brain tissue (hippocampus) of dyslipidemic rats. Methodology: Preclinical trials were conducted using male and female rats (n=30) of the Wistar strain (Rattus norvegicus) that were randomly divided into five groups (G) (n=6). G1 was control, G2 was induced to obesity with consumption of experimental feed (hypercaloric and hyperlipidic), G3 was induced to obesity with consumption of experimental feed and treated with simvastatin (50 mg/kg/day), and G4 and G5, which were induced to obesity with the consumption of experimental feed and supplemented with 100 mg/kg/day and 200 mg/kg/day of the formulation, respectively. The study period was 72 days, and, for 37 days, induction to obesity was performed with the experimental feed (hypercaloric and hyperlipidic). During the following weeks, for 35 days, after division of the groups, certain groups received, in parallel, treatment with simvastatin (G3) or supplementation with the nutraceutical (G4 and G5). Subsequently, histological slides of the brain tissue stained with violet cresyl were elaborated, photographed and analyzed. Results: No significant differences were observed between the mean of intact neurons among the experimental groups induced to obesity. The neurotoxic effect, evidenced by the significant difference between the mean of intact neurons between the control group and obesity-induced groups, corroborates the findings of neuronal damage and degenerative processes reported in the literature. Conclusion: The nutraceutical based on Amazonian fruits was not able to prevent the neurotoxic effect arising from the hyperlipidic and hypercaloric diet, and therefore did not present a neuroprotective effect in Wistar rats under the conditions established in the experiment.

Hypolipidemic Effect of Supplements Containing the Bioactive Compounds Found in Amazonian Fruits

To ascertain the hypolipidemic effect of the bioactive compounds found in Amazonian fruits by feeding dyslipidemia-induced rats, on a formulation prepared with these bioactive compounds.

Improvement of Solar Photo-Fenton by Extracts of Amazonian Fruits for the Degradation of Pharmaceuticals in Municipal Wastewater

Extracts of copoazu (Theobroma gramdiflorum), canangucha (Maurita Flexuosa), and coffee (coffea arabica) were explored as enhancers of the solar photo-Fenton process to eliminate acetaminophen, sulfamethoxazole, carbamazepine, and diclofenac. The process performance, at pH 6.2 and 5 mg L− 1 of iron without the extracts, has a very limited action (~ 35% of the pollutants degradation at 90 min of treatment) due to the iron precipitation. Interestingly, the extracts addition increased the soluble iron forms but only copoazu extract improved the pollutants degradation (~ 95% of elimination at 90 min of the process action). The copoazu extract acted as a natural complexing agent, maintaining the soluble iron up to 2 mg L− 1 even after 90 min, and consequently enhancing the pollutants degradation. The effect of copoazu extract dose on the process performance was also assessed, finding that an iron: copoazu extract molar ratio equal to 1:0.16 was the most favorable condition. Then, the process improved by copoazu extract was applied to municipal wastewater. Remarkably, the process led to ~ 90% of total pharmaceuticals degradation at 20 min of treatment. This work evidences the feasibility of amazonian fruits extracts to improve the solar photo-Fenton process to degrade pharmaceuticals in aqueous matrices at near-neutral pH.

Use of Amazon Fruits Barks as Source of Nutrients

The barks of fruits are usually discarded as organic waste; a valuable source of nutrients is obtained are used as a starting source in the preparation of functional foods. In this work, the physicochemical properties (pH, titrable acidity and soluble solids), mineral and bromatological analysis of nine Amazonian fruits were studied: abiu, acerola, araçá, bacupari, biribá, camu-camu, fruta-do-conde, araçá and taperebá. The most acidic values stand out for the different fruits, with the exception of the abiu bark (pH = 4.7). As for its nutritional contribution, it was the araçá barks that presented the highest energy value of 276.29 Kcal 100 g-1. Among the macrominerals, the potassium concentration stands out, being the highest concentration for the graviola bark, 521.04 mg 100 g-1 followed by magnesium, where the concentration in the biribá was 64.21 mg 100 g-1. On the other hand, the husks are rich in micronutrients, highlighting the concentration of zinc in the bark of araçá, 12.23 mg 100 g-1 and manganese in the bark of abiu, 6.84 mg 100 g-1. The Pearson correlation coefficient presented a highly significant correlation for Fe-Al (0.96), P-Fe (0.94) and Fe-Zn (0.89). O bligpot of principal components (PCA) explains 56% of the cases, being the minerals Mg, Na, Co, K, S and Ca highly associated for the graviola and bacuparí.

Metabolite Profiling by UPLC-MSE, NMR, and Antioxidant Properties of Amazonian Fruits: Mamey Apple (Mammea Americana), Camapu (Physalis Angulata), and Uxi (Endopleura Uchi)

The metabolite profiling associated with the antioxidant potential of Amazonian fruits represents an important step to the bioactive compound′s characterization due to the large biodiversity in this region. The comprehensive bioactive compounds profile and antioxidant capacities of mamey apple (Mammea americana), camapu (Physalis angulata), and uxi (Endopleura uchi) was determined for the first time. Bioactive compounds were characterized by ultra-performance liquid chromatography coupled to high resolution mass spectrometry (UPLC-MSE) in aqueous and ethanolic extracts. Globally, a total of 293 metabolites were tentatively identified in mamey apple, campau, and uxi extracts. The main classes of compounds in the three species were terpenoids (61), phenolic acids (58), and flavonoids (53). Ethanolic extracts of fruits showed higher antioxidant activity and total ion abundance of bioactive compounds than aqueous. Uxi had the highest values of phenolic content (701.84 mg GAE/100 g), ABTS (1602.7 μmol Trolox g−1), and ORAC (15.04 μmol Trolox g−1). Mamey apple had the highest results for DPPH (1168.42 μmol TE g−1) and FRAP (1381.13 μmol FSE g−1). Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy results showed that sugars and lipids were the substances with the highest amounts in mamey apple and camapu. Data referring to chemical characteristics and antioxidant capacity of these fruits can contribute to their economic exploitation.