title: Yerba mate (Ilex paraguariensis) enhances the gene modulation and activity of paraoxonase-2: in vitro and in vivo studies.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Paraoxonase-2 (PON-2) is an intracellular antioxidant enzyme that can be modulated by polyphenols. The aim of this study was to verify whether yerba mate (Ilex paraguariensis), a plant species rich in phenolic compounds, modulates gene expression and the activity of PON-2 in macrophages in vitro and in monocytes from peripheral blood and monocyte-derived macrophages obtained after the ingestion of green or roasted yerba mate infusions by healthy subjects.
  
  
  METHODS
  THP-1 macrophages were incubated with increasing amounts of yerba mate extracts or chlorogenic and caffeic acids (1-10 μmol/L). The in vivo effects of yerba mate or water (control) intakes were evaluated acutely (2 h after ingestion) and in the short term (after daily ingestion for 7 d) in 20 healthy women.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In general, there was no difference between the two kinds of yerba mate studied. Yerba mate extracts or chlorogenic acid at 1 and 3 μmol/L increased PON-2 relative gene expression in THP-1 macrophages (P < 0.05), whereas higher concentrations (5 and 10 μmol/L) increased the activity only. Caffeic acid induced PON-2 activity only. The acute ingestion of yerba mate infusions increased relative gene expression and PON-2 activity in monocytes (P < 0.05), whereas the consumption of yerba mate for 7 d increased PON-2 relative gene expression (P < 0.05) and had a tendency to increase PON-2 activity in monocytes and monocyte-derived macrophages.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  It is suggested that green or roasted yerba mate modulates positively the mRNA relative expression and activity of the PON-2 enzyme in monocytes and macrophages, which may prevent cellular oxidative stress.
authors.affiliation: Postgraduate Program of Nutrition, Health Sciences Center, Federal University of Santa Catarina, Florianópolis, Santa Catarina, Brazil.
authors.forename: Elenise Stucker
authors.initials: ES
authors.lastname: Fernandes
authors.forename: Marcos de Oliveira
authors.initials: Mde O
authors.lastname: Machado
authors.forename: Aline Minuzzi
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Becker
authors.forename: Fernanda
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: de Andrade
authors.forename: Marcelo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Maraschin
authors.forename: Edson Luiz
authors.initials: EL
authors.lastname: da Silva
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D043303:Aryldialkylphosphatase / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics; D001628:Beverages; D001938:Brazil; D002109:Caffeic Acids / Q000378:metabolism; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D002726:Chlorogenic Acid / Q000378:metabolism; D004790:Enzyme Induction; D005260:Female; D005511:Food Handling; D006801:Humans; D030019:Ilex paraguariensis / Q000737:chemistry*; D008264:Macrophages / Q000166:cytology / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000378:metabolism; D009000:Monocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000201:enzymology / Q000378:metabolism; D009994:Osmolar Concentration; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D018515:Plant Leaves / Q000737:chemistry*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D002109:Caffeic Acids; D010936:Plant Extracts; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D002726:Chlorogenic Acid; D043303:Aryldialkylphosphatase; C468411:PON2 protein, human