betalains and Body-Weight

Rivina humilis L. (Phytolaccaceae) accumulates vacuolar pigments betalains. These pigments are synthesized by plants of 11 families in the order caryophyllales. Red beet is the only industrial source of these hydrophilic and low acidic pigments. Betalains rich R. humilis berry juice (RBJ) could be used as alternative source of these pigments. However, there is no information on safety of these berries. In this research work, RBJ was fed to adult (single-dose: 1, 2 and 5 g RBJ/kg bw) and growing (repeated-dosing: 2.5 and 5 g RBJ/kg bw for 35 days; dietary feeding: 0.5%, 1% and 2% RBJ in diet, w/w for 90 days) male rats to assess acute, subacute and subchronic toxic responses. In all the three studies, RBJ was well tolerated plus the feed intake, body and organ weights of RBJ administered groups were comparable to that of untreated control rats. Data on hematology, histology of vital organs, biochemical measurements in serum and liver of RBJ treated rats were comparable to that of control in repeated-dosing and subchronic dietary study. These results suggest that intake of RBJ does not affect growth and normal biochemical homeostasis. Hence, RBJ is safe to consume without any adverse effects in the body.

Topics: Animals; Betalains; Beverages; Body Weight; Fruit; Male; Organ Size; Phytolaccaceae; Plant Extracts; Rats; Rats, Wistar; Toxicity Tests

The objective of the present study was to examine the influence of adding various amounts beetroot (Beta vulgaris) crisps on gastrointestinal function, antioxidant status and blood and liver lipid profiles in a high fat diet-induced dyslipidaemic rat model;. The intake of a dyslipidaemic diet increased the serum total cholesterol, total cholesterol-to-HDL-cholesterol ratio, atherogenic index, hepatic total cholesterol and triacylglycerols, suppressed production of short-chain fatty acids and decreased total antioxidant status and blood glutathione peroxidase activity. Oral administration of all tested amounts of beetroot crisps prevented the rise in serum total cholesterol and triacylglycerols levels. The treatment with the addition of 3% crisps also decreased hepatic total cholesterol level and activity of AST in serum. The experimental addition of crisps likewise resulted in a tendency towards a higher total SCFA pool and activity of glutathione peroxidase and a lower serum glucose level (p = 0.080, p = 0.061 and p = 0.067, respectively);. Results of the presented study suggest that the addition of beetroot crisps could alleviate metabolic changes in dyslipidaemic diet-administered rats.

Topics: Animals; Beta vulgaris; Betalains; Blood Glucose; Body Weight; Cholesterol; Diet, High-Fat; Dyslipidemias; Fatty Acids; Gastrointestinal Tract; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; Hypolipidemic Agents; Liver; Male; Phytotherapy; Plant Preparations; Rats; Rats, Wistar; Triglycerides

A short-term bioassay was used to determine the ability of red-beet betalain pigments to initiate or promote hepatocarcinogenesis in rat liver. Female Sprague-Dawley rats were partially hepatectomized and separated into nine groups (6-11 animals/group). Four of the groups were treated with betacyanin pigment preparations (betacyanin solution after fermentation, 50 mg/kg; pure betanin, 50 mg/kg; degraded betanin, 50 mg/kg; a betacyanin diet containing 2000 ppm/kg) to evaluate their ability to initiate hepatocarcinogenesis. N-Nitrosodiethylamine (NDEA: 10 mg/kg) was used for the positive control. Another group, previously initiated with NDEA, received daily a betacyanin solution (100 ppm; 3.5 mg/rat/day) to determine the pigment's ability to promote NDEA hepatocarcinogenesis in comparison with positive and negative controls treated respectively with and without a promoting agent (0.5% phenobarbital in the diet). Animals were killed after month 6 (promotion test) or 8 (initiation test). Liver sections were stained with haematoxylin and eosin and for gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase (GGT) activity. The number of enzyme-altered foci and the percentage of liver volume so affected, were determined for each group, by scoring for GGT. Comparison of the results obtained for the experimental groups with those for positive and negative control groups indicated that the betacyanin pigments tested in this assay did not initiate or promote hepatocarcinogenesis in rat liver. These findings provide further evidence that betalain colourants may be viable alternatives for synthetic dyes currently used as food additives.

Topics: Animals; Betalains; Body Weight; Carcinogens; Diethylnitrosamine; Female; Food Coloring Agents; gamma-Glutamyltransferase; Liver; Liver Neoplasms; Organ Size; Pigments, Biological; Quaternary Ammonium Compounds; Rats; Rats, Inbred Strains

Beet colorant was tested for mutagenic activity in five S. typhimurium strains. The absence of mutagenic activity was found with or without S-9 rat liver fractions. Groups of six rats were fed red beet colorant preparations containing 2,000 ppm betalains in the diet for 7 days. No significant differences were noted in body weight gains, feed consumption, or gross pathological alterations compared to the controls. These preliminary toxicological results indicate the potential usage of betalain pigments as a food colorant, but further long term investigations are warranted.

Topics: Animals; Betalains; Body Weight; Female; Food Coloring Agents; Lethal Dose 50; Male; Mutagenicity Tests; Pigments, Biological; Quaternary Ammonium Compounds; Rats; Rats, Inbred Strains; Salmonella typhimurium; Vegetables