Effects of jaboticaba (Myrciaria jaboticaba) peel on blood glucose and cholesterol levels in healthy rats

Abstract

The jaboticaba (Myrciaria jaboticaba (Vell.) Berg) peel was lyophilized and the proximate composition, total anthocyanins and polyphenolic content were determined. The effect of the freeze-dried jaboticaba peels (FJP) in the plasmatic levels of glucose, lipid fractions, aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) in Wistar adult male rats was investigated. The animals were distributed in four groups G0 (control), G1, G2, G4, which received 0, 1, 2 and 4% FJP powder added to normal diet, respectively. The chemical analyses showed that FJP is a source of fiber, anthocyanins, gallic and ellagic acids. The FJP supplementation was responsible for a reduction in the plasmatic glucose levels in G2 group. Total triglycerides and cholesterol levels were reduced in the G1 animals as compared to G0, but the animals treated with 2 and 4% FJP showed increased total cholesterol level and LDL-cholesterol fraction. HDL-cholesterol and hepatic probes showed no significant changes in the experimental groups G1, G2 and G4 in comparison to G0.   Key words: Polyphenols, glucose and cholesterol levels, Jaboticaba, Myrciaria jaboticaba (Vell.) Berg.