Jaboticaba (Myrciaria jaboticaba (Vell.) Berg), a Brazilian grape-like fruit, improves plasma lipid profile in streptozotocin-mediated oxidative stress in diabetic rats

Jaboticaba (Myrciaria jaboticaba (Vell.) Berg) is a Brazilian Atlantic rainforest fruit of the Myrtaceae family. In this work, the effect of the daily intake (40. days) of jaboticaba (1.0 and 2.0. g. dry. weight/kg body weight) on oxidative stress and plasma lipid profile of streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic rats was evaluated. Jaboticaba was shown to be a good source of phenolic compounds, proanthocyanidins and ellagitannins. Daily administration of jaboticaba resulted in ameliorated water consumption and energy intake in STZ-diabetic rats. Plasma total cholesterol levels were reduced in 32% and triacylglycerol decreased 50% when both doses of jaboticaba were administered. This reduction of total cholesterol and triacylglycerol levels seems to be associated to the strong in vitro inhibition of pancreatic lipase presented by jaboticaba extracts. Plasma antioxidant capacity of diabetic rats assessed by ferric reducing ability of plasma (FRAP) assay increased (2 to 2.5 times) after supplementation with both doses of jaboticaba along with a decrease of lipid peroxidation in plasma (22%) and brain (10-17%). Diabetic rats consuming jaboticaba presented higher activity of superoxide dismutase in the brain, catalase and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) in the kidneys and liver, and GPx in plasma, as compared to the control group. These results suggest that daily ingestion over a period of 40. days of jaboticaba may represent a dietary strategy for controlling oxidative stress in pathological conditions.