RESUMO
Inulin-type fructans are polymers of fructose molecules and are known for their capacity to enhance absorption of calcium and magnesium, to modulate gut microbiota and energy metabolism, and to improve glycemia. We evaluated and compared the effects of Chicory inulin "Synergy 1®" and inulin from Mexican agave "Metlin®" in two experimental models of colon cancer and bone calcium metabolism in mice and rats. Inulins inhibited the development of dextran sulfate sodium-induced colitis and colon cancer in mice; these fructans reduced the concentration of tumor necrosis factor alpha and prevented the formation of intestinal polyps, villous atrophy, and lymphoid hyperplasia. On the other hand, inulin treatments significantly increased bone densitometry (femur and vertebra) in ovariectomized rats without altering the concentration of many serum biochemical parameters and urinary parameters. Histopathology results were compared between different experimental groups. There were no apparent histological changes in rats treated with inulins and a mixture of inulins-isoflavones. Our results showed that inulin-type fructans have health-promoting properties related to enhanced calcium absorption, potential anticancer properties, and anti-inflammatory effects. The use of inulin as a prebiotic can improve health and prevent development of chronic diseases such as cancer and osteoporosis.
Assuntos
Cálcio da Dieta/metabolismo , Neoplasias do Colo/tratamento farmacológico , Frutanos/química , Prebióticos , Agave , Animais , Osso e Ossos/efeitos dos fármacos , Densitometria , Suplementos Nutricionais , Modelos Animais de Doenças , Ensaio de Imunoadsorção Enzimática , Feminino , Absorção Intestinal , Inulina/química , Masculino , Camundongos , Camundongos Endogâmicos BALB C , Fitoterapia , Extratos Vegetais/química , Ratos , Ratos WistarRESUMO
Hypercholesterolemia is a metabolic disorder characterized by a high concentration of cholesterol in the blood. Eryngium carlinae is a medicinal plant used to treat lipid diseases. The goal of this work was to evaluate, in a model of hypercholesterolemia in mice, the hypocholesterolemic effect of a hydroalcoholic extract of E. carlinae and its main metabolite, D-mannitol. Biochemical analyses of serum lipids and hepatic enzymes were performed by photocolorimetry. We performed histopathological studies of the liver and the expression of the intestinal cholesterol transporters Abcg5 and Abcg8 was determined by standard western blot method. Our results showed that hydroalcoholic extract at doses of 100 mg/kg and D-mannitol at doses of 10 mg/kg reduced the concentration of both total cholesterol and non-HDL cholesterol, without altering the concentration of HDL cholesterol and without damage to hepatocytes. Treatment with the extract increased Abcg8 intestinal transporter expression, while D-mannitol decreased the expression of the two Abcg5/Abcg8 transporters, compared with the hypercholesterolemic group. Considering that Abcg5/Abcg8 transporters perform cholesterol efflux, our results demonstrate that the lipid-lowering effect of the hydroalcoholic extract may be associated with the increase of Abcg8 expression, but the hypocholesterolemic effect of D-mannitol is independent of overexpression of these intestinal transporters and probably they have another mechanism of action.
RESUMO
Two glucosinolates (glucoraphasatin and glucoraphanin) and their degradation products (raphasatin and sulforaphane) are secondary metabolites which have shown antioxidant properties and inhibitory properties against the hepatic cholesterol; these effects are very important for the prevention of cholesterol gallstones because in their pathophysiology there is an imbalance in the transport and secretion of cholesterol. These effects produce oxygen reactive species formation, which damages the hepatic and biliary tissues. Cholesterol gallstones are a public health problem; their pharmacological treatment is very limited and the invasive surgical treatment for symptomatic gallstones is the cholecystectomy. Current research focuses on the search for preventive treatments, as there are many risk factors associated with the development of gallstones; therefore, a natural therapeutic alternative may be the use of these glucosinolates and their degradation products.
Dos glucosinolatos (glucorafasatina y glucorafanina) y sus productos de degradación (rafasatina y sulforafano) son metabolitos secundarios que han demostrado propiedades antioxidantes y propiedades inhibidoras contra el colesterol hepático; estos efectos son muy importantes para la prevención de cálculos biliares de colesterol porque en su fisiopatología existe un desajuste en el transporte y secreción del colesterol. Estos efectos producen la formación de especies reactivas de oxígeno, que dañan los tejidos hepático y biliar. Los cálculos biliares de colesterol son un problema de salud pública, su terapia farmacológica es muy limitada y el tratamiento quirúrgico invasivo para cálculos biliares sintomáticos es la colecistectomía. Las investigaciones actuales están orientadas a la búsqueda de tratamientos preventivos, porque hay muchos factores de riesgo asociados al desarrollo de cálculos biliares; por lo tanto, una alternativa terapéutica natural podría ser el uso de estos glucosinolatos, así como sus productos de degradación.
Assuntos
Humanos , Anticolesterolemiantes/administração & dosagem , Antioxidantes/administração & dosagem , Cálculos Biliares/prevenção & controle , Glucosinolatos/administração & dosagem , Hipercolesterolemia/prevenção & controle , Preparações de Plantas , Anticolesterolemiantes/farmacologia , Antioxidantes/farmacologia , Espécies Reativas de Oxigênio , Glucosinolatos/farmacologiaRESUMO
In Mexico, Raphanus sativus L. var. niger (black radish) has uses for the treatment of gallstones and for decreasing lipids serum levels. We evaluate the effect of juice squeezed from black radish root in cholesterol gallstones and serum lipids of mice. The toxicity of juice was analyzed according to the OECD guidelines. We used female C57BL/6 mice fed with a lithogenic diet. We performed histopathological studies of gallbladder and liver, and measured concentrations of cholesterol, HDL cholesterol and triglycerides. The juice can be considered bioactive and non-toxic; the lithogenic diet significantly induced cholesterol gallstones; increased cholesterol and triglycerides levels, and decreased HDL levels; gallbladder wall thickness increased markedly, showing epithelial hyperplasia and increased liver weight. After treatment with juice for 6 days, cholesterol gallstones were eradicated significantly in the gallbladder of mice; cholesterol and triglycerides levels decreased too, and there was also an increase in levels of HDL (P < 0.05). Gallbladder tissue continued to show epithelial hyperplasia and granulocyte infiltration; liver tissue showed vacuolar degeneration. The juice of black radish root has properties for treatment of cholesterol gallstones and for decreasing serum lipids levels; therefore, we confirm in a preclinical study the utility that people give it in traditional medicine.