Proceedings of International Congress on Bioactive Compounds and International Workshop on Bioactive Compounds
Proceedings of 2nd International Congress on Bioactive Compounds

Brazil has a rich biodiversity, and the Amazon biome stands out for presenting a variety of native fruits with high economic and nutritional potential. Murici and taperebá are sources of several nutrients and bioactive compounds, such as carotenoids and phenolic compounds with potential health benefits. Due to bioactive potential of native fruits, we aimed to evaluate the effects of supplementation of murici and taperebá extracts in healthy adult male Wistar rats. The in vivo assays were performed at Nutrition Faculty of Fluminense Federal University (UFF) and were approved by Animal Use Ethics Committee/UFF (CEUA nº 9501060121). Two in vivo assays were performed for each fruit. The first assay was performed with murici extract, using 40 animals aged 90 days (PN90), divided into: Control (C): saline solution; Murici dose A (50Mu): 50mg/kg/day; Murici dose B (100Mu): 100mg/kg/day; Murici dose C (200Mu): 200mg/kg/day. The second trial was performed with taperebá extract, using 40 animals with PN90, divided into: Control (C): saline solution; Taperebá dose A (50Tap): 50mg/kg/day; Taperebá dose B (100Tap): 100mg/kg/day; Taperebá dose C (200Tap): 200mg/kg/day. The animals received commercial diet and water ad libitum, and gavage for 30 days consecutive. Results were expressed (mean±SEM), statistical significance Two-way and One-way ANOVA and Tukey post-test (p<0.05). There was no statistically significant difference for body mass, lean mass, bone area, bone mineral density and bone mineral content in both trials on parameters evaluated by dual-energy X-ray (DXA) (p>0.05), however, it was observed that in first assay (murici), 200Mu group, showed lower body fat percentage (p<0.05). In relation to second assay (tapereba), 100 and 200Tap groups presented lower body fat percentage and also, 100Tap group presented lower body fat (p<0.05). Those fruits are a source of carotenoids, in which they may contribute to improve obesity and associated pathophysiological disorders. Some mechanisms of action of those compounds occur through interaction with transcription factors of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors and retinoic acid receptors, modulation of nuclear factor kappa B and nuclear factor erythroid factor 2-related pathways. Taperebá is a source of β-carotene, which can increase fatty acids oxidation in adipocytes. Regarding food consumption in first assay, 50 and 100Mu groups showed lower feed consumption (p<0.05). It was found in second in vivo assay that the 100Tap group showed lower feed consumption (p<0.05). Polyphenols present in vegetables and fruits, which have already been identified in murici and taperebá pulp, have been suggested to contribute to food intake control and appetite by regulating leptin signaling pathway in brain and peripheral tissues such as neurons expressing agouti-related protein (AgRP)/neuropeptide Y (NPY) and pro-opiomelanocortin (POMC). A second proposed mechanism is regulation of cholecystokinin signaling pathway, inducing secretion of alpha-melanocyte-stimulating hormone, which activates melanocortin receptor 4, suppressing AgRP/NPY signals, transmitting satiety signals to POMC. The inclusion of murici and taperebá within a healthy eating pattern may be beneficial to health and contribute to disease prevention due to their potential effects.