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The Antidiabetic and Antihypercholesterolemic Effects of an Aqueous Extract from Pecan Shells in Wistar Rats

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Abstract

Pecan shell decoction has been used to treat diabetes and obesity-related diseases. In this study, the effects of a pecan shell aqueous extract (PSAE) were evaluated in diabetic and hypercholesterolemic Wistar rats, analyzing clinical signs and biochemical as well as genotoxic and mutagenic parameters, to assess its safe use and efficacy. Diabetes mellitus and hypercholesterolemia were induced with streptozotocin (STZ) and tyloxapol, respectively. Animals were orally administered PSAE (100 mg/kg body weight, b.w.) for 28 days. Biochemical analyses and genotoxicity were evaluated in blood samples and mutagenicity was evaluated in bone marrow. PSAE treatment decreased the blood glucose level and stabilized clinical signs of diabetes in diabetic rats. PSAE diminished the increase in total cholesterol and triglyceride levels in hypercholesterolemic rats. The urea levels were higher in diabetic rats than in treated ones; however, creatinine values were the same in all groups. Elevated transaminase levels were suggestive of liver injuries in diabetic rats, and were not altered by PSAE treatment. PSAE did not show genotoxic or mutagenic activities in diabetic and hypercholesterolemic rats, indicating its safe use at 100 mg/kg b.w. not only in healthy rats but also in rats with induced metabolic alterations. The findings on PSAE’s efficacy may indicate that its successful and popular use is in accordance with our results. Thus, PSAE might be a potential candidate for medical purposes as a complementary treatment of diabetes and hypercholesterolemia.

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Abbreviations

ALT:

Alanine aminotransferase

AST:

Aspartate aminotransferase

DM:

Diabetes mellitus

HPLC:

High-performance liquid chromatography

NCE:

Normochromatic erythrocyte

PCE:

Polychromatic erythrocyte

PSAE:

Pecan shell aqueous extract

STZ:

Streptozotocin

T:

Tyloxapol

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Acknowledgments

This work was supported by CNPq (Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico) (fellowships) and FAPERGS (Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado do Rio Grande do Sul) (grant number 11/1090-3), Brazil. The authors are grateful to Pecanita Agroindustrial Ltda. (Cachoeira do Sul, RS, Brazil) for the donation of pecan shells.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratório de Genética Toxicológica, Universidade Luterana do Brasil (ULBRA), Avenida Farroupilha 8001, Canoas, CEP 92425-900, RS, Brazil

    Luiz Carlos S. Porto, Juliana da Silva & Jaqueline N. Picada

  2. Universidade da Região da Campanha (URCAMP), Avenida Pres. Tancredo Neves, 210, São Borja, CEP 97670-000, RS, Brazil

    Luiz Carlos S. Porto

  3. Laboratório de Fitoquímica, Universidade Luterana do Brasil (ULBRA), Avenida Farroupilha, 8001, Canoas, CEP 92425-900, RS, Brazil

    Alexandre B. F. Ferraz

  4. Centro Universitário UNIVATES, Centro de Ciências Exatas e Tecnológicas, Rua Avelino Tallini, 171, Bairro Universitário, Lajeado, CEP 95900-000, RS, Brazil

    Eduardo M. Ethur

  5. Universidade Regional Integrada (URI), Rua Univ. das Missões, 464, Santo Ângelo, CEP 98802-470, RS, Brazil

    Caroline D. L. Porto

  6. Laboratório de Estresse Oxidativo e Antioxidantes, Universidade Luterana do Brasil (ULBRA), Avenida Farroupilha 8001, Canoas, CEP 92425-900, RS, Brazil

    Norma P. Marroni

Authors
  1. Luiz Carlos S. Porto
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  2. Juliana da Silva
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  3. Alexandre B. F. Ferraz
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  4. Eduardo M. Ethur
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  5. Caroline D. L. Porto
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  6. Norma P. Marroni
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  7. Jaqueline N. Picada
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Jaqueline N. Picada.

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The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

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All applicable international and institutional guidelines for the care and use of animals were followed.

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Porto, L.C.S., da Silva, J., Ferraz, A.B.F. et al. The Antidiabetic and Antihypercholesterolemic Effects of an Aqueous Extract from Pecan Shells in Wistar Rats. Plant Foods Hum Nutr 70, 414–419 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11130-015-0510-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11130-015-0510-9

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