La présente étude avait pour objectif de déterminer la composition en acides gras, la teneur en caroténoïdes, en vitamine E, et en polyphénols des huiles extraites de quatre variétés de palmier à huile cultivées en Côte d'Ivoire (variétés parentales : HP1et HP2, variétés hybrides : HP3 et HP4), puis d'étudier les propriétés antioxydantes de leurs extraits polyphénoliques. Les résultats ont montré : une richesse particulière en acides gras insaturés totaux avec une prédominance en acide oléique des variétés HP1 (60%), HP3 (56%) et HP4 (57%) comparée à HP2 (48%). Les concentrations en vitamine E étaient de 864 à 1124 µg/g avec une forte teneur en α- et γ- tocotriénol dans la variété HP2 et les hybrides HP3 et HP4. La variété HP1 et les hybrides ont des taux de caroténoïdes totaux significativement plus élevés que la variété HP2. La teneur en polyphénols totaux était élevée dans les variétés HP1 (0,195mM EAG), HP3 et HP4 (0,191mM et 0,2 mM EAG). Les différents polyphénols identifiés étaient l'acide caféique, l'acide chlorogénique, l'acide coumarique, la rutine et un dérivé non identifié de la quercétine. Ces extraits polyphénoliques avaient un effet inhibiteur sur l'oxydation des LDL de manière dose-dépendante, dans le système d'oxydation au cuivre qu'à l'AAPH. Les activités antioxydantes étaient significativement plus importantes pour HP3 et HP4 comparées à HP1 et HP2. Ces extraits polyphénoliques ont inhibé la production d'O2•― par modulation de la NADPH oxydase au niveau des cellules THP-1 stimulées au PMA, de manière dose-dépendante. Cette action antioxydante a été confirmée par l'inhibition de l'expression de la sous unité p22phox de 74% pour HP1, 87% pour HP2, 69% pour HP3 et 75% pour HP4. L'huile de palme brute pourrait ainsi être considérée comme une source sûre de composés polyphénoliques, notamment l'huile issue des formes variétales HP3 et HP4, dont les effets protecteurs semblaient être plus marqués. / The purpose of the present study was to determine fatty acid, vitamin E, carotene and polyphenol contents in four oil palm species of Côte d'Ivoire (parental varieties: HP1et HP2, crossing varieties: HP3 and HP4), then to study their polyphenol antioxidant properties. The results showed that palm oil species were characterized by the special richness in polyunsaturated fatty acids composition, with a prevalence in oleic acid, especially the first variety, HP1 (60%), and the two hybrids ensuing from crossing HP3 (56%) and HP4 (57%) compared to HP2 (48%). Total vitamin E content was 864–1124 μg g−1, with a notable higher content of γ -and α-tocotrienol in variety HP2 and hybrids HP3 and HP4. Total carotene content of those varieties was higher, and the β-carotene and α-carotene levels were predominant in HP1, HP3 and HP4. The highest total phenolic contents were found for parental variety HP1, (0.195 mM GAE), the two crossing varieties HP3 and HP4 (0.191mM and 0.2 mM GAE). The main identified phenolic compounds were caffeic, chlorogenic, coumaric acids, rutin, and a non identified quercetin derivative. The antioxidative effects were monitored by Cu2+- or AAPH-induced generation of conjugated dienes (lag-time and oxidation rate) showed that these phenolic compounds inhibit human LDL oxidation in a synergistic manner. The antioxidant activities were significantly more important for HP3 and HP4 varieties compared to HP1 and HP2 varieties. All palm oil polyphenol extracts (compared to control) decreased PMA-stimulated O2•― production by THP-1 cells in a dose dependent manner in the modulation of NADPH oxidase. Using Western blot analysis, we further demonstrated that incubation for 24h of these polyphenol extracts with THP-1 cells led to a significant reduction in the expression of NADPH oxidase subunit p22phox (from 74% for HP1, 87% for HP2, 69% for HP3 and 75% for HP4). Crude palm oil could be considered as a good source of phenolic compounds, in particularly oil resulting from HP3 and HP4 varieties. These protective effects seemed to be more marked with the two crossing varieties in comparison with the two parental varieties.

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior / Atherosclerosis is a chronic inflammatory disease that is characterized by the accumulation of lipids and fibrous elements in the intima layer of arteries of medium and large caliber. The cardiovascular diseases resulting from atherosclerosis, among them acute myocardial infarction and stroke are the leading cause of mortality and morbidity worldwide. Oxidative stress and oxidative modification of low density lipoprotein (LDL) have an important role in the development of this disease and so the inclusion of antioxidants in the diet may prevent the progression of atherosclerosis. The carotenoid norbixin (NBX), which is found in annatto seeds, have excellent antioxidant activity as demonstrated in several models of oxidative damage. In this context, the objective of this study was to evaluate the antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and antiatherogenic potential of NBX in a model of atherosclerosis in rabbits. Male New Zealand rabbits received regular chow (control) or an atherogenic diet (0.5% cholesterol) alone or supplemented with NBX (10, 30 or 100 mg/kg) for 60 days. The antioxidant enzyme activities, lipid profiles, oxidative stress and inflammatory markers and histopathological status were evaluated in the serum or aortic tissue. The atherogenic diet increased serum lipids, oxidized low-density lipoprotein (LDLox) levels and oxidized low-density lipoprotein antibody (LDLoxAB) levels, in addition to inducing lipid and protein oxidation in the aortic tissue. Supplementation with NBX caused 35% reduction in the levels of LDLoxAB, 69% in the levels of LDLox, 27% in the levels of TBARS and 46% in the levels of protein carbonyl induced by the atherogenic diet, besides increasing up to 88% the HDL levels. In atherosclerotic rabbits, the non-protein thiol group content and enzymatic activity of the antioxidants superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione reductase and thioredoxin reductase were increased in aortic tissue, whereas paraoxonase activity was reduced in serum. Supplementation with NBX restored up to 41% the increased levels of NPSH, 37% SOD activity, 45% CAT activity, 66% GR activity, 50% TrxR-1 activity induced by the atherogenic diet. NBX also restored 15% of PON1 activity inhibited by the atherogenic diet. The atherogenic diet also increased the serum levels of inflammatory markers and the ratio of the intima area to the media area in the aortic arch; these changes were not prevented by NBX. Thus, NBX supplementation improved the lipid profile, decreased oxidative stress and prevented changes in paraoxonase activity and in the antioxidant system in hypercholesterolemic rabbits, but did not prevent the formation of atherosclerotic plaques. These results support a beneficial role of NBX in the treatment of atherosclerosis by preventing oxidative events and by restoring antioxidant enzyme activity and paraoxonase activity. / A aterosclerose é uma doença inflamatória crônica caracterizada pelo acúmulo de lipídeos e elementos fibrosos na túnica intima das artérias de médio e grande calibre. As doenças cardiovasculares decorrentes da aterosclerose, dentre elas o infarto agudo do miocárdio e o acidente vascular cerebral são a principal causa de mortalidade e morbidade mundial. O estresse oxidativo e a modificação oxidativa da lipoproteína de baixa densidade (LDL) possuem um papel importante no desenvolvimento dessa doença. Por este motivo a inclusão de antioxidantes na dieta poderia impedir a progressão da aterosclerose. O carotenóide norbixina (NBX), presente nas sementes de urucum, possui excelente atividade antioxidante já demonstrada em diversos modelos de dano oxidativo. Nesse contexto, o objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar o potencial antioxidante, anti-inflamatório e antiaterogênico da NBX em um modelo de aterosclerose em coelhos. Coelhos Nova Zelândia machos receberam ração regular (controle) ou uma dieta aterogênica (0,5% de colesterol) sozinha ou suplementada com NBX (10, 30 ou 100 mg/kg) por 60 dias. A atividade das enzimas antioxidantes, o perfil lipídico, os marcadores de estresse oxidativo e inflamação e as alterações histopatológicas foram avaliados no soro ou tecido aórtico dos coelhos hipercolesterolêmicos. A dieta aterogênica aumentou os níveis séricos de lipídios, de lipoproteína de baixa densidade oxidada (LDLox) e de anticorpos contra lipoproteína de baixa densidade oxidada (LDLoxAB), além de induzir a oxidação de lipídios e proteína no tecido aórtico. A suplementação com NBX reduziu em até 35% o aumento dos níveis de LDLoxAB, 69% dos níveis de LDLox, 27% dos níveis de TBARS e 46% dos níveis de proteínas carboniladas induzidos pela dieta aterogênica, além de aumentar em até 88% os níveis de HDL. Nos coelhos ateroscleróticos ocorreu uma elevação no conteúdo de grupos tiólicos não-protéicos (NPSH) e na atividade das enzimas antioxidantes superóxido dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutationa redutase (GR) e tioredoxina redutase (TrxR-1) no tecido aórtico, enquanto a atividade da enzima paraoxonase (PON1) foi reduzida no soro. A suplementação com NBX reduziu em até 41% o aumento dos níveis de NPSH, 37% da atividade da SOD, 45% da atividade da CAT, 66% da atividade da GR e 50% da atividade da TrxR-1 induzidos pela dieta aterogênica. A NBX também restaurou em 15% a atividade da PON1 inibida pela dieta aterogênica. A dieta aterogênica também aumentou os níveis séricos de marcadores inflamatórios e a relação entre a área da íntima e da média no arco aórtico e essas mudanças não foram prevenidas pela NBX. Assim, a suplementação com NBX melhorou o perfil lipídico, diminuiu o estresse oxidativo e impediu mudanças na atividade da paraoxonase e no sistema antioxidante em coelhos hipercolesterolêmicos, mas não impediu a formação de placas ateroscleróticas. Esses resultados indicam um papel benéfico da NBX no tratamento de aterosclerose, impedindo eventos oxidativo e restaurando a atividade das enzimas antioxidantes e da enzima paraoxonase.