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This study reports, for the first time, the chemical composition and biological activity of essential oil from Brazilian Cymbopogon densiflorus flowers. Thirty chemical compounds were identified by gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry (GC/MS), corresponding to 95 % of total compounds from an essential oil chromatogram obtained by gas chromatography-flame ionization detection (GC-FID ). The essential oil was mainly composed of cis-p-mentha-1(7),8-dien-2-ol (26 %), trans-p-mentha-1(7),8-dien-2-ol (18 %), trans-p-mentha-2,8-dien-1-ol (13 %) limonene (9 %), cis-p-mentha-2,8-dien-1-ol (7 %), cis-carveol (7 %) and carvone (5 %). The identity confirmation of the major compounds was performed by 1H/13C heteronuclear single-quantum coherence nuclear magnetic resonance (HSQC NMR). The essential oil exhibited a weak antioxidant activity by the DPPH method and a wide spectrum of antimicrobial activity against the pathogenic bacterial strains tested, showing some efficacy against 7 of the 10 strains with the greatest inhibition observed with the Gram-negative bacterium Shigella sonnei.

Natural compounds could be a complementary alternative to inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) management. This study determined the effects of an aqueous extract of Myrciaria jaboticaba peel (EJP) (50 g L&minus, 1) on 2,4,6-trinitrobenzenesulfonic acid-induced colitis. Wistar rats were randomized into five groups: HC&mdash, healthy control, CC&mdash, colitis control, DC&mdash, drug control, SJ&mdash, short-term treatment with EJP, and LJ&mdash, long-term treatment with EJP. The EJP treatments reduced body weight loss, stool consistency score, and spleen enlargement. Gut microbiota was modulated through increased Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium counts after EJP treatment. Short-chain fatty acids were also higher in the EJP treatment groups. The antioxidant enzyme activities were greater than CC or DC controls. Myeloperoxidase activity (LJ), inducible nitric oxide synthase (LJ/SJ), and intercellular adhesion molecule (SJ) levels were lower than in the CC group. EJP decreased histological scoring, mucosal thickness, and preserved the crypts and histological structure. Therefore, EJP showed beneficial effects and could be potentially used as an adjuvant in IBD treatment.

Passion fruit (Passiflora edulis) peel, a waste from food industrial processing, is still little explored. It contains fibers, including soluble fibers, which may be a substrate for enteric bacteria and contribute to maintaining bowel health. The purpose of this work was to investigate the action of P. edulis peel in the microbiota, production of short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), and antioxidant potential in the colon of Wistar rats. Seventy-seven-day-old male Wistar rats were divided into two groups: Peel and Control (n = 4). Both groups were fed with standard diet (AIN-93M); however, 50% of the cellulose content in the Peel group diet was replaced by fiber from P. edulis peel flour (PPF). After 15 days, the animals were anesthetized and sacrificed. The results showed that PPF intake positively affected the SCFAs intestinal production. The Peel group had greater butyrate and acetate concentration in cecal content than the Control group (P < 0.05), without alteration in microbiota (counts of Lactobacillus, Bifidobacterium, Enterobacteriaceae, and Total aerobic). Butyrate is a main substrate of the colonocytes and may improve mucus production, vascular flow, and mucosa barrier function. Changes in the antioxidant enzymes activity (GR, GPx, and SOD) and thiol groups (GSH) were not observed in the Peel group, which suggests that the period of PPF intake was insufficient to affect the oxidative status in the colon. These findings suggest that the Passiflora peel flour may improve bowel health by increasing SCFAs production, although more investigations are necessary about the effect of PPF on the colonic fermentation and the antioxidant status of the colon.

Inflammatory bowel disease is a chronic relapsing disease that affects millions of people worldwide; its pathogenesis is influenced by genetic, environmental, microbiological, and immunological factors. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of short- and long-term Passiflora edulis peel intake on the antioxidant status, microbiota, and short-chain fatty acids formation in rats with 2,4,6-trinitrobenzenesulphonic acid-induced colitis using two “ in vivo” experiments: chronic (prevention) and acute (treatment). The colitis damage score was determined using macroscopic and microscopic analyses. In addition, the antioxidant activity in serum and other tissues (liver and colon) was evaluated. Bifidobacteria, lactobacilli, aerobic bacteria and enterobacteria, and the amount of short-chain fatty acids (acetic, butyric, and propionic acids) in cecum content were counted. Differences in the colon damage scores were observed; P. edulis peel intake improved serum antioxidant status. In the treatment protocol, decreased colon lipid peroxidation, a decreased number of aerobic bacteria and enterobacteria, and an improvement in acetic and butyric acid levels in the feces were observed. An improvement in the bifidobacteria and lactobacilli was observed in the prevention protocol. These results suggested that P. edulis peel can modulate microbiota and could be used as source of fiber and polyphenols in the prevention of oxidative stress through the improvement of serum and tissue antioxidant status.

Passion fruit (Passiflora edulis), including its leaves, is a rich source of bioactive compounds, as polyphenols. This study investigated the in vitro and in vivo antioxidant potential of aqueous extract of P. edulis leaves and identification of phenolic compounds by HPLC-PDA and ESI-MS/MS analysis. Male Wistar rats were divided in two groups (n = 6 per group). Control group received water and experimental group received P. edulis leaf extract (Tea) (1.1 mg dry leaves mL− 1), both ad libitum. Total phenols and antioxidant potential (DPPH, FRAP, ABTS and ORAC assay) were determined in aqueous extract. Antioxidant status was analyzed by FRAP, ORAC in serum and by SOD, GR and GPx activities, GSH contents and TBARS in liver, brain and kidneys. Gut microbiota profile and short-chain fatty acids were determined in feces. Vitexin, isovitexin and isoorientin were analyzed in the extract of P. edulis leaves. The animals which received tea showed a decrease of 20% of TBARS in liver. GSH contents in kidneys increased 40% relative to control group. The GR activity was 2 times higher and GPx 3.2 times lower in liver than control group. Animals from TEA group showed a 45% reduction on SOD activities in liver and brain. Serum antioxidant potential was not altered. Tea intake also promoted colonic bacteria growth, although there was a decreasing in the SCFA production. Therefore, P. edulis leaf extract could be an option to enhance the supply of antioxidants and to safeguard against oxidative stress.

The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between fructooligosaccharide (FOS) intake at different life stages of Wistar rats and its stimulatory effects on intestinal parameters. Recently weaned and ageing female rats were divided into growing and ageing treatments, which were fed diets that partially replaced sucrose with FOS for 12 weeks. Dietary FOS intake induced a significant increase in the numbers of Bifidobacterium and Lactobacillus in growing rats. FOS intake was associated with increased butyric acid levels and a reduced pH of the caecal contents at both ages. Differential gene expression patterns were observed by microarray analysis of growing and ageing animals fed the FOS diet. A total of 133 genes showed detectable changes in expression in the growing rats, while there were only 19 gene expression changes in ageing rats fed with FOS. These results suggest that dietary FOS intake may be beneficial for some parameters of intestinal health in growing rats.

Previous studies have assessed the properties of aqueous extracts, using byproducts such as jaboticaba peel. We have assessed potential antioxidant effects of jaboticaba extract (Plinia jaboticaba) (JAE = 50 g/L) in vitro and in vivo. Healthy Wistar rats received ad libitum JAE for either 15 or 49 days in vivo. Cyanidin-3-O-glucoside, delphinidin-3-O-glucoside, gallic acid, rutin, myricetin, and quercetin were identified as the main polyphenols in JAE. Lipid peroxidation values in the serum and colon were similar throughout the groups. In addition, JAE did not disturb the antioxidant systems. JAE also altered gut microbiota, increasing since Lactobacillus, Bifidobacterium and Enterobacteriaceae counts. Bacterial metabolites were higher in the colon content of rats fed with JAE than in the control group. Given these results, under healthy conditions, JAE dietary supplementation could perform in vivo modulation of gut microbiota, without disturbing the antioxidant system. PRACTICAL APPLICATION: Jaboticaba (Plinia jaboticaba) peel is a rich and often-wasted source of bioactive compounds, such as polyphenols. Previous studies have shown that physiological benefits of this berry. The jaboticaba peel could contribute to antioxidant defense systems; it may also have an effect over gut microbiota related to polyphenols contents. Aqueous extraction may be a practical way of employing the bioactive compounds of jaboticaba peel; these compounds can be consumed daily and safely, and thus have attracted particular attention. This work showed positive impacts of jaboticaba peel treatments on microbiota and antioxidant defense systems, and could guide future clinical studies.

The antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects of the aqueous extract of Passiflora edulis leaves, which is a source of vitexin, isovitexin and isoorientin, was investigated in a 2,4,6-trinitrobenzenesulphonic acid induced colitis model. The oral intake of P. edulis extract (1100 µg mL−1) improved significantly (P

Antibiotic growth promoter has been effectively used in poultry production for stimulating growth and preventing diseases. However, the use of antibiotics has been questioned due to the possible appearance of resistant bacteria. Special attention has been paid to the use of essential oils as natural alternatives for antibiotics. We investigated the use of different concentrations of microencapsulated eucalyptol and eugenol in broiler chickens diet as alternative growth promoters for avilamycin. One-day-old male broiler chickens were submitted to 7 different dietary treatments. The eugenol demonstrated strong antioxidant activity and both eugenol and eucalyptol showed antimicrobial activity. The broiler performance showed no significant difference to the group with administration of 10 mg/kg of avilamycin when eucalyptol (500 mg/kg) or eugenol (500 mg/kg) were used separately in diet. Our findings suggest that the microencapsulated phytotherapic agents are a potential alternative to the use of avilamycin as growth promoter in broilers during the broilers growing phase. DOI: 10.14685/rebrapa.v5i1.157