title: Pereskia aculeata Miller Flour: Metabolic Effects and Composition.
abstract: Pereskia aculeata Miller is known in Brazil as ora-pro-nobis (OPN) and has been used commonly in the folklore medicine. The purpose of our study was to evaluate the composition and the effects of OPN flour on the metabolic profile and intestinal motility of Wistar rats. Animals were divided randomly into five groups (n = 10): G1 (control group) and G2 (treated with OPN flour). For the intestinal motility: G3 (control group), G4 (treated with senne), and G5 (treated with OPN flour). After 40 days, G1 and G2 were euthanized and metabolic profiles were analyzed (glycemia, cholesterol, triglycerides, high density lipoprotein [HDL-c], C reactive protein, AST, ALT, Lee Index, weight, and visceral fat). The flour of OPN was effective in reducing percentage of weight gain, visceral fat, levels of total cholesterol, triglycerides, low density lipoprotein, very low density lipoprotein, and increased HDL-c. Significance was also found in the distance covered by the activated charcoal from the pylorus to the beginning of the cecum, which was higher in animals treated with OPN. Our results indicate that OPN flour may bring health benefits, as the improvement of the intestinal motility, and it is associated with reduction of visceral fat and lipid profile, as well as the increase of HDL-c levels. With these results, we may suggest that the incorporation of this flour in different industrial products may be a convenient and effective way for the intake of healthier products.
authors: 1 Department of Biochemistry and Pharmacology, School of Medicine, University of Marília (UNIMAR) , Marília, Brazil .|2 Department of Biochemistry and Nutrition, Faculty of Food Technology of Marília (FATEC) , Marília, Brazil .
authors: Sandra Maria
authors: SM
authors: Barbalho
authors: 1 Department of Biochemistry and Pharmacology, School of Medicine, University of Marília (UNIMAR) , Marília, Brazil .|2 Department of Biochemistry and Nutrition, Faculty of Food Technology of Marília (FATEC) , Marília, Brazil .
authors: Élen Landgraf
authors: ÉL
authors: Guiguer
authors: 1 Department of Biochemistry and Pharmacology, School of Medicine, University of Marília (UNIMAR) , Marília, Brazil .|2 Department of Biochemistry and Nutrition, Faculty of Food Technology of Marília (FATEC) , Marília, Brazil .
authors: Paulo Sérgio
authors: PS
authors: Marinelli
authors: 1 Department of Biochemistry and Pharmacology, School of Medicine, University of Marília (UNIMAR) , Marília, Brazil .
authors: Patrícia Cincotto
authors: PC
authors: do Santos Bueno
authors: 1 Department of Biochemistry and Pharmacology, School of Medicine, University of Marília (UNIMAR) , Marília, Brazil .
authors: Leticia Maria
authors: LM
authors: Pescinini-Salzedas
authors: 1 Department of Biochemistry and Pharmacology, School of Medicine, University of Marília (UNIMAR) , Marília, Brazil .
authors: Mirele Cristine Batista
authors: MC
authors: Dos Santos
authors: 2 Department of Biochemistry and Nutrition, Faculty of Food Technology of Marília (FATEC) , Marília, Brazil .
authors: Marie
authors: M
authors: Oshiiwa
authors: 1 Department of Biochemistry and Pharmacology, School of Medicine, University of Marília (UNIMAR) , Marília, Brazil .
authors: Claudemir Gregório
authors: CG
authors: Mendes
authors: 3 Faculty of Sciences-UNESP , Bauru, Brazil .
authors: Manoel Lima
authors: ML
authors: de Menezes
authors: 2 Department of Biochemistry and Nutrition, Faculty of Food Technology of Marília (FATEC) , Marília, Brazil .
authors: Cláudia Cristina Teixeira
authors: CC
authors: Nicolau
authors: 2 Department of Biochemistry and Nutrition, Faculty of Food Technology of Marília (FATEC) , Marília, Brazil .
authors: Alda Maria
authors: AM
authors: Otoboni
authors: 4 Department of Gastroenterology, Hospital of the University of Marília (UNIMAR) , Marília, Brazil .
authors: Ricardo
authors: R
authors: de Alvares Goulart
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001938:Brazil; D029421:Cactaceae / Q000737:chemistry; D005769:Gastrointestinal Motility / Q000187:drug effects*; D000960:Hypolipidemic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D007422:Intestines / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D050152:Intra-Abdominal Fat / Q000378:metabolism*; D008055:Lipids / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D009765:Obesity / Q000378:metabolism; D018515:Plant Leaves; D028321:Plant Preparations / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011897:Random Allocation; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D015430:Weight Gain / Q000187:drug effects*
chemical_list: D000960:Hypolipidemic Agents; D008055:Lipids; D028321:Plant Preparations
keywords: Pereskia aculeata; cholesterol; glycemia; intestinal motility; visceral fat; wistar rats