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Gut Microbiota Modulation by Bioactive Compounds from Ilex paraguariensis: an In Vivo Study

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Abstract

Yerba-mate (Ilex paraguariensis) is recognized for its biocompounds and bioactive properties. This study aimed to assess the potential of yerba-mate extract to modulate the intestinal microbiota in rats. After the ethical committee approval (CEUA – UPF, number 025/2018), the Wistar rats were given a daily dose of 3.29 mg of phenolic compounds per animal for 45 days. The antioxidant activity of the extract was assessed by ABTS and FRAP assays and the total phenolic compounds was measured at different pH levels. Identification and quantification of chlorogenic acid isomers were carried out using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Intestinal microbiota modulation was evaluated by administering the yerba-mate extract or water (control) to Wistar rats via intragastric gavage and its efficiency was measured through PCR. The antioxidant capacity of the yerba-mate extract was 64.53 ± 0.26 μmol Trolox/mL (ABTS) and 52.96 ± 0.86 μmol Trolox/mL (FRAP). The total phenolic compounds showed higher levels at pH 7.5 compared to pH 2.0. Chlorogenic acid isomers were found in greater abundance, with a concentration of 14.22 g/100 g. The administration of the extract resulted in positive modulation of the intestinal microbiota, specifically for the genera Lactobacillus sp. and Prevotella sp. The increase of these genera is related to the promotion of homeostasis of the gut microbiota. Therefore, these findings indicate that yerba-mate extract possesses significant antioxidant activity and can effectively modulate the intestinal microbiota in rats. These results support the potential use of yerba-mate as an alternative for controlling and preventing diseases associated with intestinal dysbiosis.

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The data will be available upon reasonable request.

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Funding

This study was financed by the Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior - Brasil - (CAPES) Finance Code 001. We would also like to thank the FAPERGS (process #19/2551-0001981-5) for partly funding the study.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Graduate Program in Food Science and Technology, University of Passo Fundo (UPF), Passo Fundo, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil

    Daiane Santos, Bruna Krieger Vargas, Elionio Galvão Frota, Bárbara Biduski, Lára Franco dos Santos & Telma Elita Bertolin

  2. Food Quality and Sensory Science Department, Teagasc Food Research Centre Ashtown, Dublin, D15 KN3K, Ireland

    Bárbara Biduski

  3. Graduate Program in Chemical Engineering, University of Passo Fundo (UPF), Passo Fundo, Grande do Sul, Brazil

    Samuel Teixeira Lopes & Júlia Pedó Gutkoski

  4. Faculty of Agronomy and Veterinary Medicine (FAMV), University of Passo Fundo (UPF), Passo Fundo, Grande do Sul, Brazil

    Giseli Aparecida Ritterbusch

  5. Graduate Program in Bioexperimentation, University of Passo Fundo (UPF), Passo Fundo, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil

    Rômulo Pillon Barcelos

  6. Department of Food Technology and Science, Center of Rural Sciences, Federal University of Santa Maria (UFSM), Santa Maria, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil

    Sabrina Somacal & Tatiana Emanuelli

Authors
  1. Daiane Santos
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  2. Bruna Krieger Vargas
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  3. Elionio Galvão Frota
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  4. Bárbara Biduski
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  5. Samuel Teixeira Lopes
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  6. Júlia Pedó Gutkoski
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  7. Lára Franco dos Santos
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  8. Giseli Aparecida Ritterbusch
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  10. Sabrina Somacal
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  11. Tatiana Emanuelli
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  12. Telma Elita Bertolin
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Contributions

Daiane Santos, Bruna Krieger Vargas and Elionio Galvão Frota: Formal analysis; Methodology; Conceptualization; Writing - Review & Editing. Samuel Teixeira Lopes, Júlia Pedó Gutkoski, Lára Franco dos Santos, Giseli Aparecida Ritterbusch, Rômulo Pillon Barcelos, Sabrina Somacal and Tatiana Emanuelli: Formal analysis; Methodology; Conceptualization; Writing - Review & Editing. Bárbara Biduski and Telma Elita Bertolin: Supervision; Formal analysis; Methodology; Conceptualization; Writing - Review & Editing.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Bárbara Biduski.

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Ethical Approval

The study was approved by the local Ethics Committee for Animal Research of the University of Passo Fundo - Brazil (CEUA – UPF, number 025/2018).

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The authors declare no conflict of interest.

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Santos, D., Vargas, B.K., Frota, E.G. et al. Gut Microbiota Modulation by Bioactive Compounds from Ilex paraguariensis: an In Vivo Study. Plant Foods Hum Nutr 78, 796–802 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11130-023-01117-y

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