The safety and bioactive potential of crude carotenoid extract from Cantaloupe melon nanoencapsulated in porcine gelatin (EPG) were evaluated in a chronic inflammatory experimental model. Animals were fed a high glycemic index and high glycemic load (HGLI) diet for 17 weeks and treated for ten days with 1) HGLI diet, 2) standard diet, 3) HGLI diet + crude carotenoid extract (CE) (12.5 mg/kg), and 4) HGLI diet + EPG (50 mg/kg). General toxicity signals were investigated, considering body weight, food intake, hematological, biochemical parameters, relative weight, morphology, and histopathology of organs. The biochemical parameters indicated the low toxicity of EPG. Acute hepatitis was observed in animals' livers, but CE and EPG groups presented improved tissue appearance. Chronic enteritis was observed in animals, with villi and intestinal glands preservation in the EPG group. The results suggest the safety and the bioactive effect of EPG, possibly related to its anti-inflammatory potential.
Keywords: ALP, alkaline phosphatase; ALT, alanine aminotransferase; AST, aspartate transferase; BSD, Bowman’s space dilation; CE, crude carotenoid extract; CEUA, Ethics Committee on the Use of Animals; Curcubitaceae; EI, efficiency of incorporation; EPG, crude carotenoid extract from Cantaloupe melon nanoencapsulated in porcine gelatin; FTIR, Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy; GGT, gamma-glutamyl transferase; HGLI, high glycemic index and high glycemic load; IIF, inflammatory infiltrate foci; Nanotechnology; OECD, Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development; Obesity; PHT, presence of hypertrophic tubules; PIGI, percentage of intestinal gland integrity; PUV, percentage of ulcerated villi; PVA, percentage of villous absence; PVI, percentage of villus integrity; PVN, percentage of villous necrosis; SEM, Scanning Electron Microscope; THC, tubular hyaline cylinders; Toxicity; β-carotene.
© 2020 The Authors.