BURITI (MAURITIA FLEXUOSA L.F.) AND BARU (DIPTERYX ALATA VOGEL) OILS DIFFERENTIALLY MODULATE ADIPOSE TISSUE REDOX RESPONSES IN WISTAR RATS

Mauritia flexuosa (buriti) and Dipteryx alata Vogel (baru) oils are rich in unsaturated fatty acids and bioactive compounds and are associated with potential antioxidant, antiinflammatory, and intermediate metabolism-modulating effects. Oxidative stress occurs when the production of reactive species exceeds the capacity of antioxidant systems to neutralize them, potentially resulting in lipid and protein damage and compromising cellular homeostasis. In this context, adipose tissue is an important target for investigation, as it plays a role in the regulation of energy metabolism and metabolic signaling and integrates processes related to redox balance. Thus, the present study aimed to evaluate the redox response of adipose tissue in rats supplemented with buriti and baru oils. Sixty male Wistar rats (Rattus norvegicus, Albinus) were used (CEUA protocol number (9204110520). At 90 days of age, the animals were divided in Experiment 1 and Experiment 2. Experiment 1: animals were divide in three groups (n=10): saline control (SC), soybean oil (SO), and buriti oil (BURI); and Experiment 2, animals were divided in saline control (SC), soybean oil (SO), and baru oil (BARU). The saline groups were gavage with saline solution and the oils groups were gavage with soybean, buriti, or baru oil, respectively at a dose of 0.5 mL/100 g of body mass, for 30 consecutive days and the animals received commercial diet and water ad libitum. At 120 days of age, the animals were anesthetized and euthanized for tissue collection, with epididymal adipose tissue being used for redox balance analyses. For the redox balance assessment, a homogenate consisting of white epididymal adipose tissue was used. Lipid oxidation markers, protein oxidation markers, and antioxidant capacity were evaluated, including lipid hydroperoxides by the FOX method, thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS), DPPH radical scavenging activity, carbonylated proteins, reduced thiol groups, and total antioxidant capacity by the FRAP method. At PN120, no significant differences were observed in adipose tissue redox balance for FRAP, FOX, TBARS, or thiol levels among groups (p>0.05). Protein carbonyl content was reduced by 36.6% in the SO group compared with SC (p0.05). Protein carbonyl content was reduced by 24.2% in SO group compared with SC (p<0.05). FRAP was reduced by 29.8% in SO and 6.4% in BARU compared with SC (p<0.05). These findings suggest that buriti and baru oils may have limited effects on adipose tissue redox homeostasis in healthy rats, with potential modulation of specific oxidative and antioxidant pathways rather than broad changes in redox balance. FUNDING: This work was supported by Fundação de Amparo a Pesquisa do Estado do Rio de Janeiro (FAPERJ, E26/211.451/2021). This study was financed in part by the Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior - Brasil (CAPES) - Finance Code 001.