Beneficial Effects of Tamarind Trypsin Inhibitor in Chitosan-Whey Protein Nanoparticles on Hepatic Injury Induced High Glycemic Index Diet: A Preclinical Study.

Ana J F C Aguiar,Thaís S Passos,Lídia L R Matias,Christina S Camillo,Ana F T Gomes,Jaluza L C De Queiroz,Rafael O A Costa,Ana H A Morais,Izael S Costa,Gerciane S Oliveira,Pedro P A Santos,Alexandre C Serquiz

doi:10.3390/ijms22189968

Abstract

Several studies have sought new therapies for obesity and liver diseases. This study investigated the effect of the trypsin inhibitor isolated from tamarind seeds (TTI), nanoencapsulated in chitosan and whey protein isolate (ECW), on the liver health status of the Wistar rats fed with a high glycemic index (HGLI) diet. The nanoformulations without TTI (CW) and ECW were obtained by nanoprecipitation technique, physically and chemically characterized, and then administered to the animals. The adult male Wistar rats (n = 20) were allocated to four groups: HGLI diet + water; standard diet + water; HGLI diet + ECW (12.5 mg/kg); and HGLI diet + CW (10.0 mg/kg), 1 mL per gagave, for ten days. They were evaluated using biochemical and hematological parameters, Fibrosis-4 Index for Liver Fibrosis (FIB-4), AST to Platelet Ratio Index (APRI) scores, and liver morphology. Both nanoparticles presented spherical shape, smooth surface, and nanometric size [120.7 nm (ECW) and 136.4 nm (CW)]. In animals, ECW reduced (p < 0.05) blood glucose (17%), glutamic oxalacetic transaminase (39%), and alkaline phosphatase (24%). Besides, ECW reduced (p < 0.05) APRI and FIB-4 scores and presented a better aspect of hepatic morphology. ECW promoted benefits over a liver injury caused by the HGLI diet.

Highlights

In recent decades, there has been a nutritional transition worldwide with changes in people’s eating habits of all age groups, which has been a demonstrated preference for ultra-processed foods
The 12.5% SDS-PAGE gel stained with silver nitrate (Figure 1B) confirms the isolation of trypsin inhibitor isolated from tamarind seeds (TTI) with the presence of protein bands with a predominance of molecular mass around 20 kDa
TTI present in the ECW nanoparticle promoted bioactive effects not presented by CW

Summary

Introduction

There has been a nutritional transition worldwide with changes in people’s eating habits of all age groups, which has been a demonstrated preference for ultra-processed foods. The growing and alarming increase in the prevalence of obesity is a public health problem worldwide, affecting the quality and life expectancy of the population It causes an overload on health systems since excess fat is associated with several comorbidities, including metabolic syndrome (MS), cancer, cardiovascular diseases, hypertension, type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM2), liver diseases, and others [5,6,7]. It is increasingly recognized as the component of liver disease in MS [8,9]

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