title: Açai (Euterpe oleracea Mart.) Upregulates Paraoxonase 1 Gene Expression and Activity with Concomitant Reduction of Hepatic Steatosis in High-Fat Diet-Fed Rats.
abstract: Açai (Euterpe oleracea Mart.), a fruit from the Amazon region, has emerged as a promising source of polyphenols. Açai consumption has been increasing owing to ascribed health benefits and antioxidant properties; however, its effects on hepatic injury are limited. In this study, we evaluated the antioxidant effect of filtered açai pulp on the expression of paraoxonase (PON) isoforms and PON1 activity in rats with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). The rats were fed a standard AIN-93M (control) diet or a high-fat (HF) diet containing 25% soy oil and 1% cholesterol with or without açai pulp (2 g/day) for 6 weeks. Our results show that açai pulp prevented low-density lipoprotein (LDL) oxidation, increased serum and hepatic PON1 activity, and upregulated the expression of PON1 and ApoA-I in the liver. In HF diet-fed rats, treatment with açai pulp attenuated liver damage, reducing fat infiltration and triglyceride (TG) content. In rats receiving açai, increased serum PON1 activity was correlated with a reduction in hepatic steatosis and hepatic injury. These findings suggest the use of açai as a potential therapy for liver injuries, supporting the idea that dietary antioxidants are a promising approach to enhance the defensive systems against oxidative stress.
authors.affiliation: Research Center in Biological Sciences, Federal University of Ouro Preto, 35400-000 Ouro Preto, MG, Brazil; Department of Biological Sciences, Federal University of Ouro Preto, 35400-000 Ouro Preto, MG, Brazil.
authors.forename: Renata Rebeca
authors.identifier: 0000-0001-8150-8620
authors.initials: RR
authors.lastname: Pereira
authors.affiliation: Federal University of São Paulo, 04039-002 São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Isabel Cristina Mallosto Emerich
authors.identifier: 0000-0001-7223-4429
authors.initials: IC
authors.lastname: de Abreu
authors.affiliation: Postgraduate Program in Health and Nutrition, Federal University of Ouro Preto, 35400-000 Ouro Preto, MG, Brazil.
authors.forename: Joyce Ferreira da Costa
authors.identifier: 0000-0001-5420-7355
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Guerra
authors.affiliation: Research Center in Biological Sciences, Federal University of Ouro Preto, 35400-000 Ouro Preto, MG, Brazil.
authors.forename: Nara Nunes
authors.initials: NN
authors.lastname: Lage
authors.affiliation: Research Center in Biological Sciences, Federal University of Ouro Preto, 35400-000 Ouro Preto, MG, Brazil.
authors.forename: Juliana Márcia Macedo
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Lopes
authors.affiliation: Department of Basic Health, Federal University of Juiz de Fora, Governador Valadares Campus, 35010-177 Governador Valadares, MG, Brazil.
authors.forename: Maísa
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-7104-7493
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Silva
authors.affiliation: Research Center in Biological Sciences, Federal University of Ouro Preto, 35400-000 Ouro Preto, MG, Brazil; Department of Biological Sciences, Federal University of Ouro Preto, 35400-000 Ouro Preto, MG, Brazil.
authors.forename: Wanderson Geraldo
authors.initials: WG
authors.lastname: de Lima
authors.affiliation: Research Center in Biological Sciences, Federal University of Ouro Preto, 35400-000 Ouro Preto, MG, Brazil; Department of Foods, Federal University of Ouro Preto, 35400-000 Ouro Preto, MG, Brazil.
authors.forename: Marcelo Eustáquio
authors.identifier: 0000-0001-5807-6778
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Silva
authors.affiliation: Research Center in Biological Sciences, Federal University of Ouro Preto, 35400-000 Ouro Preto, MG, Brazil; Department of Biological Sciences, Federal University of Ouro Preto, 35400-000 Ouro Preto, MG, Brazil.
authors.forename: Maria Lucia
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-6128-1745
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Pedrosa
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D016632:Apolipoprotein A-I / Q000378:metabolism; D043303:Aryldialkylphosphatase / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D059305:Diet, High-Fat; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D065748:Euterpe / Q000737:chemistry*; D005260:Female; D005638:Fruit; D008077:Lipoproteins, LDL / Q000378:metabolism; D008099:Liver / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000201:enzymology / Q000473:pathology; D065626:Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000201:enzymology / Q000473:pathology; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000187:drug effects*; D008517:Phytotherapy; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D010946:Plants, Medicinal; D059808:Polyphenols / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology; D011916:Rats, Inbred F344; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000378:metabolism; D015854:Up-Regulation
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D016632:Apolipoprotein A-I; D008077:Lipoproteins, LDL; D010936:Plant Extracts; D059808:Polyphenols; D014280:Triglycerides; C099252:oxidized low density lipoprotein; C572204:Pon1 protein, rat; D043303:Aryldialkylphosphatase