No abstract

Summary Red guava (Psidium cattleyanum Sabine) and guabiju (Myrcianthes pungens (O. Berg) D. Legrand) are small fruits that are native to southern Brazil. This study evaluated the physicochemical composition, antioxidant activity and functional compounds of both fruits. Red guava exhibited a large amount of dietary fibre. Guabiju showed more antioxidant activity, had a higher anthocyanin content and had a higher carotenoid content. In the guabiju fruit, β‐carotene represented 40.4% of the total carotenoids, and malvidin 3‐glycoside represented 60% of the total anthocyanin content. β‐Cryptoxanthin was the predominant carotenoid in red guava, representing 44.8% of the total carotenoids; cyanidin 3‐glycoside was the predominant anthocyanin, representing 51.7% of the total anthocyanins. These native fruits could represent an alternative to traditionally consumed fruits, and then, the characterisation of bioactive compounds of fruits such as red guava and guabiju represents important information to the consumers who looking for a healthy diet.

The present study was the first to examine the protective effect and antioxidant potential of two fruits native to the south of Brazil, namely guabiju (Myrcianthes pungens (O. Berg) D. Legrand) and red guava (Psidium cattleyanum Sabine), with respect to reducing the effects of cisplatin-induced hypercholesterolemia in male Wistar rats. The cisplatin-treated animals showed high glucose, LDL cholesterol, oxidized LDL cholesterol and total cholesterol levels. These native fruits reversed the increase in these parameters. The fat levels in the liver improved with supplementation with the fruits, and there were no differences in the thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS), creatinine, urea or HDL cholesterol levels, nor in the weight of the organs analyzed, indicating that the dose used did not affect these markers. O presente estudo foi o primeiro realizado para avaliar o efeito protetor e o potencial antioxidante de duas frutas nativas do sul do Brasil, conhecidas como Guabiju (Myrcianthes pungens (O. Berg) D. Legrand) e araçá vermelho (Psidium cattleyanum Sabine), em relação a reduzir os efeitos da hipercolesterolemia induzida pela cisplatina em ratos Wistar machos. Os animais tratados com a cisplatina apresentaram elevada taxa de glicose, altos níveis de colesterol LDL, colesterol LDL oxidado e colesterol total. Os frutos nativos atuaram protegendo os animais pela redução destes parâmetros. Os níveis de gordura no fígado melhoraram com a suplementação pelos frutos e não houve diferenças nas substâncias reativas ao ácido tiobarbitúrico (TBARS) e níveis de creatina, uréia e colesterol HDL e, também, no peso dos órgãos analisados, indicando que a dose utilizada não foi capaz de afetar tais marcadores.Unitermos: Guabiju/efeito protetor. Araçá vermelho/efeito protetor. Myrcianthes pungens (O. Berg) D. Legrand/efeito protetor. Psidium cattleyanum Sabine/efeito protetor. Hipercolesterolemia/estudo experimental. Cisplatina.

The effects of annatto seeds and of bixin on the oxidative damage induced by cisplatin in male Wistar rats was evaluated in the present study by way of lipid peroxidation, weight gain, the food efficiency coefficient, fat deposits in the hepatocytes and dosing of the enzymes in this organ. The animals were divided into four groups: control group (CG), cisplatin group (CPG), bixin+cisplatin group (CBG) and annatto+cisplatin group (CUG). Cisplatin (5 mg/kg body weight) was injected intraperitoneally 48 hours before the end of the experiment. The bixin and annatto were administered daily together with the commercial feed. The pre-treatment with annatto and bixin attenuated the cisplatin-induced liver damage and significantly reduced the enzymes AST and ALT. Annatto was shown to be capable of inhibiting lipid peroxidation as determined by TBARS. These results suggest that annatto seeds and bixin could be important agents in the reduction of cisplatin-induced hepatotoxicity.