This study aimed microencapsulating Attalea phalerata Mart. oil, containing high carotenoid and phenolic compounds content, with Arabic gum and gelatin, using the complex coacervation method. The yield, efficiency, morphology of microcapsules and content of phenolic compounds, carotenoids and antioxidant activity in different processes conditions (concentration of the filling, temperature and agitation speed) were evaluated. The results showed 88% of yield, efficiency up to 70% and a characteristic size of microcapsules. The amount of carotenoids was high in crude oil (394.84 µg of carotenoids/g oil) and the microencapsulation tests showed amounts of 19.19 to 166.40 µg of carotenoids/g oil. The phenolic compounds in the crude oil were 20.73 mg GAE/g sample and the microencapsulation tests showed amounts of 3.17 to 15.16 mg GAE/g oil. The values of bioactive compounds influenced in the antioxidant activity though ABTS•+ method with values of 161.70 µM trolox/g oil to crude oil and 7.70 and 159.54 µM trolox/g oil for microcapsules tests.

Abstract Purpose: To evaluate the effect of hyperbaric oxygenation (HBO) on the expression of the genes antioxidant glutathione peroxidase 4 (Gpx4) and lactoperoxidase (Lpo) in the lung of mice subjected to intestinal ischemia and reperfusion (IIR). Methods: Control group (CG) in which were subjected to anesthesia, laparotomy and observation for 120 minutes; an ischemia and reperfusion group (IRG) subjected to anesthesia, laparotomy, small bowel ischemia for 60 minutes and reperfusion for 60 minutes; and three groups treated with HBO during ischemia (HBOG + I), during reperfusion (HBOG + R) and during ischemia and reperfusion (HBOG + IR). Studied 84 genes of oxidative stress by the method (RT-qPCR). Genes with expression levels three times below or above the threshold cycle were considered significantly hypoexpressed or hyperexpressed, respectively (Student’s t-test p<0.05). Results: Gpx4 and Lpo were hiperexpressed on IRG, showing a correlation with these genes with lung oxidative stress. Treated with HBO, there was a significant reduction on genic expression on HBOG+I. Conclusion: Hyperbaric oxygenation showed to be associated with decreased expression of these antioxidant genes, suggesting a beneficial effect on the mechanism of pulmonary oxidative stress whenever applied during the ischemia.

Resumo Fundamentos: O excesso de peso vem sendo considerado um importante problema de saúde pública. Na tentativa de reverter esse quadro, são propostos diversos tipos de tratamento. O óleo de cártamo (Carthamus tinctorius) vem sendo utilizado na prevenção/tratamento da obesidade. Objetivos: O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar os efeitos terapêuticos desse óleo em um modelo experimental de síndrome metabólica. Métodos: Inicialmente foram utilizados ratos Wistar alimentados com dieta altamente palatável (AP) por dez semanas. Após, os animais receberam a dieta AP com suplementação de óleo de soja (APOS) ou óleo de cártamo (APOC), na dosagem 1,0 ml/1000 g de peso do animal. No final do experimento, a composição corporal, o perfil lipídico e glicemia dos animais foram avaliados. Para a análise estatística, utilizou-se o teste t de Student. Resultados: Na primeira fase (indução da síndrome metabólica), os animais que receberam a dieta AP mostraram ganho de peso (p < 0,001), adiposidade visceral (p = 0,001), glicemia (p = 0,001) e triglicerídeos séricos (p = 0,03) significativamente mais elevados do que aqueles do grupo controle. Além disso, houve uma diferença no peso do fígado (p = 0,01). Esses resultados demonstram que a administração de dieta AP é um modelo eficaz para o estudo experimental da síndrome metabólica. Na segunda etapa, os animais do grupo APOC mostraram aumento de colesterol total (p < 0,05) e de LDL-colesterol (p < 0,001). Conclusão: Sob as condições experimentais referidas, conclui-se que a utilização de óleo de cártamo pode causar efeitos deletérios sobre o perfil lipídico em um modelo experimental de síndrome metabólica.

Abstract Background: Overweight has been considered an important public health problem. To reverse this situation, various types of treatment are proposed. The safflower oil (Carthamus tinctorius L.) has been used in the prevention/treatment of obesity. Objectives: The aim of this study was to evaluate the therapeutic effects of this oil in an experimental model of metabolic syndrome. Methods: Male Wistar rats initially received a highly palatable (HP) diet for ten weeks for validation of a metabolic syndrome model. Following confirmation, the animals were treated with a HP diet and soybean oil (HPSO) or safflower oil (HPSA) supplementation (1.0 mL/1000 g of animal weight). At the end of the experiment, the body composition, lipid profile and blood glucose levels of the animals were assessed. Student t test was used for statistical analysis. Results: In the first stage (induction of metabolic syndrome), the animals given the HP diet showed gain weight (p < 0.001), visceral adiposity (p = 0.001), and significantly higher levels of blood glucose (p = 0.001) and triglycerides (p = 0.03) than those of the control group. Also, there was a difference in liver weight (p = 0.01). These results demonstrate that the HP diet administration is an effective model for the experimental metabolic syndrome study. In the second stage, the animals of the HPSA group showed increased total cholesterol (p < 0.05) and LDL-cholesterol (p < 0.001) levels. Conclusion: Under the referred experimental conditions, the use of safflower oil can cause possible deleterious effects on the lipid profile in a metabolic syndrome experimental model.