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Lipids excess from an uterine environment can increase free radicals production of and thus induce oxidative status imbalance, a key factor for progression of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) in offspring. Food antioxidant components in maternal diet may play an important role in preventing offspring metabolic disorders. The objective of the study was to evaluate the effects of açaí pulp supplementation on maternal high-fat diet, by assessing activity and expression of antioxidant enzymes and biomarkers of oxidative stress in the liver. Female Fisher rats were divided into four groups and fed a control diet (C), a high-fat diet (HF), a control diet supplemented with açaí (CA) and a high-fat diet supplemented with açaí (HFA) before mating, during gestation and lactation. The effects of açaí supplementation on oxidative stress biomarkers and antioxidant enzymes expression were evaluated in dams and male offspring after weaning. HFA diet increased body weight in dams, however reduced absolute and relative liver weight. There was a reduction in liver biomarkers of oxidative stress, malondialdehyde and carbonyl protein, as well as in catalase, glutathione peroxidase and superoxide dismutase activity. In offspring, HFA diet reduced liver weight and increased Gpx1, Gpx4 and Sod1 mRNA expression. These results suggest that açaí is able to restore redox status, preventing oxidative damage in dams by a direct mechanism and to promote beneficial effects on expression of antioxidant defences related genes in offspring., (Copyright © 2021. Published by Elsevier Masson SAS.)

With increased longevity and subsequent rise in people with age‐related neurodegenerative diseases, protection of neurons from oxidative stress damage has become an important field of study. For the first time, we highlight the neuroprotective properties of rapeseed pomace (RSP) extract in SH‐SY5Y human neuroblastoma cells. We used resazurin to determine cell metabolism, 2,7'‐dichlorofluorescin diacetate (H2DCFDA) to assess the potential of RSP extracts to shield cells from reactive oxygen species (ROS) induced by H2O2 using flow cytometry, HPLC to analyze for malondialdehyde (MDA) as a lipid peroxidation marker and the COMET assay to assess DNA strand breakage. Protein stress arrays were used to investigate the cellular pathways affected by RSP extract. No effect on cell metabolism in SH‐SY5Y cells was observed after RSP extract treatment (up to 1.5 mg/ml). Pretreatment (24 hr) with RSP extract (1 mg/ml), before H2O2‐induced stress, alleviated ROS production and DNA strand breakage by 68%, and 38%, respectively. At protein level, the RSP extract increased the levels of FABP‐1, HIF‐1α, SOD2, and Cytochrome c proteins. Under H2O2‐induced stress, however, it helped to downregulate p38α levels, a protein kinase which is receptive to stress impulse (mitogen‐activated). RSP extract shows very promising cell protective properties in relation to oxidative stress. Practical applications: Oxidative stress has been associated with numerous diseases for example cancer, diabetes, and many neurological disorders including Parkinson's and Alzheimer's diseases. Hence, there is acceptance among the scientific community of antioxidant therapy and the quest for effective, low cost and readily available sources of natural antioxidants is paramount. Rapeseed plantations are abundant around the world due to the use of rapeseed oil in cooking and as a biofuel. The resulting rapeseed pomace (by‐product), specifically its extract, contains high levels of phytochemicals that protect cells against oxidative stress. Therefore, RSP extract can potentially be used/developed as functional food and nutraceuticals in the prevention of many complex neurodegenerative diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

For a number of years there has been intense interest in phytochemicals due to their potential health benefits. One readily available and rich source of phytochemicals is Rapeseed pomace (RSP), a waste product obtained after edible oil production from Brassica napus . In this work, we analysed the ubiquitous secondary metabolites in RSP (harvest 2014, North East of Scotland) after soxhhlet ethanol/water (95:5) extraction. LC-MS/MS data of the extract revealed several secondary metabolites, with sinapic acid being the most abundant. The presence of a high level of phenolics in the extract was confirmed with the folin ciocalteu assay. Strong antioxidant activities of the extract was determined by using common antioxidant assays (FRAP, DPPH and ORAC). In addition, the extract (13.9 μg/mL) provided complete pBR322 plasmid DNA protection, from oxidative stress induced by AAPH (3.5 mM). Interestingly, in vitro analysis showed that the RSP extract exhibited acetylcholinesterase inhibition activity in a time and concentration dependant manner. Furthermore, cellular studies showed that incubation of neuroblastoma cells (SH Sy-5Y) with RSP extract protected cell metabolism from reactive oxygen species produced by H 2 O 2 (1 mM). We are currently undertaking in vivo studies using the model organism C. elegans . Preliminary results showed that RSP extract is non-toxic (up to 5 mg/mL) and has neuroprotective properties in C. elegans models of neurodegenerative diseases (work in progress). The positive properties associated with the RSP extract in this study warrants further investigation for the revalorisation of rapeseed pomace in the health/food industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]