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Chemical Composition and Anti-inflammatory Properties of the Unsaponifiable Fraction from Awara (Astrocaryum vulgare M.) Pulp Oil in Activated J774 Macrophages and in a Mice Model of Endotoxic Shock

Plant Foods for Human Nutrition volume 67, pages 384–392 (2012)Cite this article

Abstract

Awara (Astrocaryum vulgare M.) pulp oil has been shown to possess anti-inflammatory properties in vivo, and contains an unsaponifiable matter rich in bioactive compounds. This study focused on the ethanolic unsaponifiable fraction (EUF) of awara pulp oil. Its chemical composition has been characterized: carotenoid, phytosterol, and tocopherol contents represent 125.7, 152.6, and 6.8 μg/mg of EUF, respectively. We further evaluated this fraction for anti-inflammatory properties in J774 macrophages activated by lipopolysaccharide (LPS) plus interferon (IFN) γ to understand the biological effects of awara pulp oil. EUF strongly decreased nitric oxide (NO), prostaglandin E2, tumour necrosis factor (TNF) α, and interleukin (IL) -6 and -10 production in activated J774 cells. Moreover, it inhibited expression of inducible NO synthase and cyclooxygenases-2 in vitro. The anti-inflammatory properties of EUF were also confirmed in vivo by modulation of TNFα, IL-6 and IL-10 serum concentration in an endotoxic shock model. Pre-treatment with awara oil fraction offers promise as a protective means to lower the production of excessive amounts of pro-inflammatory molecules.

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Abbreviations

COX:

Cyclooxygenases

EUF:

Ethanolic unsaponifiable fraction

IFN:

Interferon

IL:

Interleukin

LPS:

Lipopolysaccharide

NOS:

Nitric oxide synthase

ORAC:

Oxygen radical absorbance capacity

PG:

Prostaglandin

ROS:

Reactive oxygen species

SNP:

Sodium nitroprusside

TNF:

Tumour necrosis factor

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratoire de Pharmacologie et Physiopathologie Expérimentales, UMR Qualisud, Faculté de Pharmacie, Université Montpellier I, 15 avenue Charles Flahault, 34093, Montpellier Cedex 5, France

    Emilie Bony, Emilie Dussossoy, Karine Portet & Alain Michel

  2. Laboratoire d’Immunologie, Faculté de Pharmacie, Université Montpellier I, 15 avenue Charles Flahault, 34093, Montpellier Cedex 5, France

    Frédéric Boudard & Jean Giaimis

  3. Centre de Coopération Internationale en Recherche Agronomique pour le Développement (CIRAD), Département PERSYST, UMR Qualisud, TA B-95/16, 34398, Montpellier Cedex 5, France

    Emilie Bony & Pierre Brat

Authors
  1. Emilie Bony
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  2. Frédéric Boudard
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  3. Emilie Dussossoy
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  4. Karine Portet
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  5. Pierre Brat
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  6. Jean Giaimis
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  7. Alain Michel
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Correspondence to Alain Michel.

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Bony, E., Boudard, F., Dussossoy, E. et al. Chemical Composition and Anti-inflammatory Properties of the Unsaponifiable Fraction from Awara (Astrocaryum vulgare M.) Pulp Oil in Activated J774 Macrophages and in a Mice Model of Endotoxic Shock. Plant Foods Hum Nutr 67, 384–392 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11130-012-0323-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11130-012-0323-z

Keywords

  • Awara (Astrocaryum vulgare M.)
  • Unsaponifiable fraction
  • Carotenoids
  • Phytosterols
  • Tocopherols
  • Anti-inflammatory
  • J774 macrophages
  • Endotoxic shock