Experimental studies of the effect of sea buckthorn and wheat bran in food on the physiological status of rats

Year & Volume - Issue: 
Authors: 
Olga S. Fomenko, Anastasiya N. Makarova, Inna V. Simakova, Yuriy Yu. Eliseev, Yuliya V. Eliseeva, Elena N. Artemova
Article type: 
CID: 
e0304
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Abstract: 
The aim of this research paper was a sanitary-toxicological study of the effectiveness and safety of developed functional property products, such as chopped semi-finished products from chicken with wheat bran and shortbread cake with cottage cheese and sea buckthorn, in preclinical studies on laboratory animals. Methods — The effect of new products on the experimental rats was studied using physiological, biochemical, pathomorphological and histological research methods. As a result, it was discovered that the inclusion of foods with wheat bran and fresh sea buckthorn into the diet of experimental animals had a positive effect on the behavioral reactions of rats, the increase of appetite and the rapid growth of animals. Results — The improvement in the metabolic processes physiology of the studied rats was noted in the biochemical and morphological blood parameters. In the experimental group of rats where carbohydrates were partially substituted with cottage cheese shortbread cake and sea buckthorn, a significant decrease in the total bilirubin content was noted; the level of cholesterol in the blood serum of experimental animals from group which received chicken cutlets with bran was 1.4-1.7 times lower than the cholesterol content in animals of the control and other experimental groups. At the same time, statistically significant differences in the number of red blood cells, white blood cells, platelets and hemoglobin level, the activity of alanine and aspartate aminotransferases, alkaline phosphatase and amylase, the level of total protein and the creatinine content were not revealed in the group of experimental rats compared with the control group of rats, receiving a standard diet. The histological data showed that the liver structure of the experimental animals had a more pronounced beam and capillary structure compared with the control group, and the condition of the villi and epithelium of the small intestine showed the positive physiological effect of the studied herbal additives in food technology with functional properties. Conclusion — The research results allow us to conclude that the developed products are functional, intended for the systematic use in the composition of food rations by all age groups of a healthy population, which reduces the risk of gastrointestinal and liver diseases.
Cite as: 
Fomenko OS, Makarova AN, Simakova IV, Eliseev YuYu, Eliseeva YuV, Artemova EN. Experimental studies of the effect of sea buckthorn and wheat bran in food on the physiological status of rats. Russian Open Medical Journal 2020; 9: e0304.

Introduction

In recent years, there has been a clear trend towards an increase in nutrition dependent diseases, characterized by the use of a large number of refined foods and low consumption of essential substances, without which the proper functioning of the body is impossible. Fighting nutrition dependent diseases, the so-called “diseases of civilization”, is possible only by including foods enriched with functional ingredients with a pronounced physiological effect in the diet.

Currently, the relevant direction of scientific research is the creation of food products with biologically active substances that have a certain physiological effect. Moreover, the enrichment of food products of various kinds with functional ingredients should be carried out only scientifically, by studying the mechanisms of their therapeutic and prophylactic effect on the body. The inclusion of fresh sea buckthorn in the traditional recipe for shortbread cake with cottage cheese and wheat bran in a similar recipe for chicken cutlets was reasonable [1-3].

Wheat bran is a powerful source of dietary fiber which is about 43.6%. On average, wheat bran contains 15.1% of protein, 3.8% of fat, 53.8% of carbohydrates and 8.2% of fiber. Their mineral composition includes potassium, magnesium, chromium, zinc, copper and other micronutrients, vitamins B, PP, C, provitamin A and E, as well as selenium. The consumption of bran, as a source of dietary fiber, has a beneficial effect on the biological processes taking place in the human body. Due to ion-exchange and adsorption properties, they bind and excrete many harmful substances from the body: nitrates, nitrites, formaldehydes, phenols, pesticides, heavy metals, mycotoxins, which contribute to the detoxification of the body [4, 5].

The choice of sea buckthorn is due to its taste and functional-technological properties. Fresh sea buckthorn contains polyunsaturated essential fatty acids, ascorbic acid, carotenoids, thiamine, niacin, riboflavin, tocopherol, lycopene, folic acid, phylloquinone, sugars, tannins.

The consumption of sea buckthorn has a positive effect in the treatment of cardiovascular system and blood diseases, gastritis, peptic ulcer and duodenum, lack of vitamins, as a prophylactic to reduce degenerative processes of changes in the mucous membrane of the esophagus. In general, sea buckthorn is a product that has a lipotropic, antioxidant, immunostimulating effect [6-9]. However, research works on sea buckthorn as a carrier of physiologically functional ingredients used to create products with functional properties based on it, are not represented enough in evidence-based medicine.

The purpose of the paper was to study the effect of sea buckthorn on the physiological efficiency of shortbread cake with cottage cheese and the effect of wheat bran on chicken cutlets in vivo.

Material and Methods

Research food

The authors have developed the recipes and production technologies for the following types of products: chicken cutlets using wheat bran [10, 12], shortbread cake with cottage cheese and sea buckthorn [11, 13].

As control products, traditional recipes were used for: shortbread cake with cottage cheese, chicken cutlets.

The inclusion of fresh sea buckthorn and wheat bran into the recipes made it possible to obtain products with higher taste characteristics as well as functional and technological properties. Nutrition, energy value, mineral and vitamin composition per 100 g of developed products are presented in Table 1.

 

Table 1. Analysis of the nutritional and energy value of foods

Parameters

Food items

Shortbread cake with cottage cheese

Shortbread cake with cottage cheese and sea buckthorn

chicken cutlets

chicken cutlets with bran

Water, g.

34.73

35.60

61.68

62.02

Proteins, g.

9.08

9.09

12.37

12.62

Fats, g

19.70

18.98

9.28

9.40

Unsaturated fatty acids (UFA), g.

11.66

11.19

2.34

2.36

Polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA), g.

0.40

0.36

-

-

Cholesterol, mg.

54.20

52.50

39.24

39.24

Mono- and disaccharides (MDS). g.

34.20

33.89

0.25

0.45

Starch, g.

19.60

19.60

10.72

7.96

Carbohydrates, g.

54.02

53.79

10.99

8.43

Dietary fiber (DF), g.

1.00

1.03

1.46

3.35

Organic acids (OA), g.

0.31

0.34

0.18

0.16

Ash, g.

0.70

0.71

0.93

1.06

Energy value, kcal.

421.53

414.33

189.93

187.90

Mineral elements

Sodium, mg

36.43

36.40

147.93

143.55

Potassium, mg.

148.99

151.38

141.45

155.00

Calcium mg

68.50

68.59

15.85

17.00

Magnesium, mg.

40.78

41.18

21.91

24.77

Phosphorus, mg.

116.00

116.02

150.76

159.22

Iron, mg.

0.99

1.01

1.64

1.91

Vitamins

Retinol, mcg.

158.70

152.80

39.24

39.24

B-carotene, mg.

84.00

100.00

5.99

6.23

Retinol equivalent (RE), mg

172.21

169.51

40.44

40.49

Tocopherol equivalent (TE), mg

1.32

1.36

0.68

0.72

Thiamine, mg

0.07

0.0704

0.08

0.08

Riboflavin, mg.

-

0.181

0.09

0.10

Nicotinic acid, mg

-

0.003

-

-

Pyridoxine, mg.

-

0.01

-

-

Folic acid, mg.

-

0.12

-

-

Biotin, mg

-

0.043

-

-

Niacin, mg

0.46

0.47

4.78

4.78

Niacin equivalent, mg.

2.48

2.49

7.82

24.33

Ascorbic acid, mg.

0.12

2.72

1.00

1.00

 

The developed products practically do not differ from the control samples prepared according to traditional recipes in terms of the content of basic nutrients and energy value. However, the inclusion of fresh sea buckthorn fruits allowed enriching the cake with provitamin A and riboflavin, significantly increasing the content of ascarboxylic acid, and increasing the tocopherol equivalent (TE). It, thus, increases the antioxidant activity necessary to stabilize the fat component of the product and prevent oxidative processes.

In chicken cutlets with the addition of wheat bran, the total carbohydrate content has been decreased by 1.3, with a simultaneous increase in the amount of dietary fiber. The protein content does not change. The ash content increases, which indicates that with the inclusion of wheat bran into chicken cutlets, the mineral composition of the latter improves.

 

Animals

Studies were conducted on 5 groups of the Wistar laboratory rats, 10 animals in each group, which differed in diet:

1. Control group of rats received a standard diet, which according to nutritional and energy values ​​corresponded to physiological norms and the needs of the body of laboratory animals

2. Group No. 1 wherecarbohydrate part of the daily full-fledged diet (7 g), which came from bread (4 g) and cereals (3 g) was 100% replaced with shortbread cake with cottage cheese

3. Group No. 2 where carbohydrate part of the daily full-fledged diet (7 g), which came from bread (4 g) and cereals (3 g) was 100% replaced with shortbread cake with cottage cheese and sea buckthorn

4. Group No. 3 where chicken cutlets in an amount of 10 g, instead of 5 g of meat and 0.7 g of meat and fish meal included in the standard diet, equal a 100% replacement of the protein part of the standard diet

5. Group No. 4 where chicken cutlets with wheat bran in an amount of 10 g, instead of 5 g of meat and 0.7 g of meat and fish meal that are part of the standard diet, equal a 100% replacement of the protein part of the standard diet.

Groups of clinically healthy rats were formed by the method of analogues: one breed, one sex, one age, one weight.

 

Research design

All animal experiments were carried out on the basis of a certified vivarium of the educational and scientific-technological "Veterinary Hospital" center and laboratories of the Department of Morphology, Animal Pathology and Biology of the Vavilov Saratov State Agricultural University (Saratov, Russia).

The animals were fed for 60 days; during the entire experiment, the rats were kept in individual cages (10 animals each). Prior to the inclusion of the studied products into the diet, animals were kept in quarantine for 21 days and transferred to the diet in accordance with the research plan. The control group of rats received a standard diet, which, according to its nutritional and energy value, corresponded to the physiological norms and needs of laboratory animals (Table 2) and was previously successfully tested by us [14]. The diet of the four experimental groups of rats was partially replaced, while the total caloric value and the ratio of the main nutrients in comparison with the diet of the control group of animals did not differ (see Tables 3 and 4).

 

Table 2. The daily diet of the control and experimental groups of laboratory animals No. 1 and 2: en-ergy value, the content of macro- and micronutrients

Parameters

Net weight, g

Proteins,

g

Fats,

g

Carbohydrates,

g

Energy value, kcal

Vitamins, mg

B-carotene

Riboflavin

Tocopherol equivalent (TE)

Ascorbic acid

Cereal mix

15.00

2.88

5.73

4.65

79.05

0.001

0.010

0.740

0.05

Bread

4.00

0.30

0.04

1.87

8.54

-

0.002

0.040

-

Oat groats

3.00

0.37

0.18

1.78

10.26

-

0.003

0.050

-

Milk

8.00

0.23

0.27

0.38

4.80

0.001

0.012

-

0.10

Meat

5.00

1.01

0.14

-

5.30

-

0.013

0.030

-

Juicy food, greens

20.00

0.16

0.02

0.50

2.80

0.012

0.008

0.020

2.00

Fish oil

0.10

-

0.10

-

0.90

-

-

-

-

Meat and fish meal

0.70

0.47

0.06

-

-

-

-

-

-

Feed yeast

0.20

0.03

0.01

0.02

0.22

-

0.001

0.002

-

Salt

0.20

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

Shortbread cake with cottage cheese

7.00

0.64

1.38

3.78

29.50

5.88

-

0.090

0.01

Shortbread cake with cottage cheese and sea buckthorn

7.00

0.64

1.33

3.77

29.00

7.00

0.013

0.100

0.19

Total:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

In a standard diet

 

5.45

6.54

9.20

111.87

0.014

0.039

0.882

2.12

In the diet No. 1 with a shortbread cake with cottage cheese

 

5.42

7.71

9.33

122.57

5.90

0.039

0.882

2.13

In the diet No. 2 with a shortbread cake with cottage cheese and sea buckthorn

 

5.42

7.66

9.32

122.07

7.02

0.052

0.892

2.31

 

Table 3. The daily diet of the control and experimental groups of laboratory animals No. 3, 4: energy value, the content of macro- and micronutrients

Parameters

Net weight, g

Proteins,

g

Fats,

g

Carbohydrates,

g

Energy value, kcal

Dietary fiber (DF)

Vitamins, g

Mineral elements, mg

РР

Fe

Mg

Са

Cereal mix

15.00

2.88

5.73

4.65

79.05

2.53

0.95

0.75

48.55

33.85

Bread

4.00

0.30

0.04

1.87

8.54

-

0.11

0.08

1.32

0.92

Oat groats

3.00

0.37

0.18

1.78

10.26

0.24

0.13

0.12

3.48

1.92

Milk

8.00

0.23

0.26

0.38

4.80

-

0.06

0.01

1.12

9.60

Meat

5.00

1.01

0.14

-

5.30

-

0.29

0.13

1.35

0.50

Juicy food, greens

20.00

0.16

0.02

0.50

2.80

0.20

0.06

0.12

2.80

4.60

Fish oil

0.10

-

0.10

-

0.90

-

-

-

-

-

Meat and fish meal

0.70

0.47

0.06

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

Feed yeast

0.20

0.03

0.01

0.02

0.22

-

0.03

0.01

0.10

0.05

Salt

0.20

-

-

-

-

-

-

0.01

0.04

0.74

Chicken cutlets

10

1.24

0.93

1.10

18.99

0.15

0.78

0.16

2.19

1.58

Chicken cutlets with bran

10

1.26

0.94

0.84

18.79

0.34

2.43

0.19

2.48

1.70

Total:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

in a standard diet

 

5.45

6.54

9.20

111.87

2.97

1.63

1.22

58.76

52.18

In the diet No. 3 with chicken cutlets

 

5.21

7.27

10.30

125.56

3.12

2.12

1.25

59.60

53.26

In the diet No. 3 with chicken cutlets with bran

 

5.23

7.28

10.04

125.36

3.31

3.77

1.28

59.89

53.38

 

Table 4. Characteristics of the diet of the control and experimental groups of animals

Number and name of animal group

Diet type

Proteins, g

Fat, g

Carbohydrates, g

Energy value, kcal

The ratio of basic nutrients in the diet P:F:C [13]

control

Usual full-fledged diet

5.45

6.54

9.20

111.87

1:1.2:1.7

Experimental group №1

Usual full-fledged diet including shortbread cake with cottage cheese

5.42

7.71

9.33

122.57

1:1.4:1.7

Experimental group №2

Usual full-fledged diet including including shortbread cake with cottage cheese with sea buckthorn

5.42

7.66

9.32

122.07

1:1.4:1.7

Experimental group №3

Usual full-fledged diet including chicken cutlets

5.21

7.27

10.30

125.56

1:1.4:2.0

Experimental group №4

 

Usual full-fledged diet including

chicken cutlets with bran

5.23

7.28

10.04

125.36

1:1.4:2.0

 

A comparative analysis of the daily diets of the experimental groups No. 1, No. 2 and the diet of the control group of animals revealed a slight decrease in protein content (0.6%), however, at the same time, defective oatmeal and bread proteins are replaced with biologically active protein lecithin complex of cottage cheese. The increase in fat by 19.5% (shortbread cake with cottage cheese) and 17.1% (shortbread cake with cottage cheese and sea buckthorn) is associated with the inclusion of 9% fat cottage cheese and fresh sea buckthorn containing deficient arachidonic acid, which is involved in the construction of cellular membranes, and removes cholesterol from cholesterol plaques.

Analysis of micronutrient composition showed an increase in the content of riboflavin in the diet of the experimental group of rats No. 2 by 33.3% compared with the usual diet an increase in the content of tocopherol equivalent by 1.1%, an increase in the content of ascorbic acid by 9.0%, an increase in the content of β-carotene by 50 thousand times. From a physiological point of view, an increase in the content of the above vitamins helps to stabilize the redox processes in the body, strengthen cell membranes and increase the body's resistance to infectious diseases.

Derivatives of riboflavin as coenzymes are part of a large number of the most important redox enzymes. The unsaturated structure of β-carotene allows its molecules to adsorb light and prevent the accumulation of free radicals and ROI. Ascorbic acid and vitamin E (tocopherol equivalent) are actively involved in redox processes occurring in the body and, being powerful antioxidants, inhibit free radical reactions caused by both internal processes and negative environmental influences.

The third and fourth experimental groups of animals daily received respectively chicken cutlets and chicken cutlets with wheat bran in the amount of 10 g, instead of 5 g of meat and 0.7 g of meat and fish meal included in the standard diet, which equals 100% replacement of the protein portion in a standard diet.

Analysis of the daily diet of laboratory animals shows that the 100% replacement of the protein part of the standard diet with chicken cutlets and chicken cutlets with wheat bran allowed us to increase the amount of fat in the diets by 10%, carbohydrates by 10.7%, and the energy value by 11%. The inclusion of chicken wheat bran cutlets in the recipe contributes to an increase in animal dietary fiber by 10.3%, which positively affects intestinal peristalsis, blood cholesterol, prevention of the risk of developing cardiovascular and oncological diseases, modulation of postprandial hyperglycemia and other. An increase in the vitamin PP content in the diet by 56.8% increases the niacin equivalent, and magnesium by 1.9% contributes to the normal functioning of the nervous system and a positive physiological effect on the digestive tract. An increase in iron content by 4.7% and calcium by 2.2% compared to the standard diet has a positive effect on blood composition and reduces the risk of inflammatory processes.

After the experiment was completed, rats were euthanized by diethyl ether overdose for pathomorphological examination of the internal organs and tissues of animals.

The general scheme of sanitary-toxicological research of laboratory animals is presented in Figure 1.

 

Figure 1. Scheme of the sanitary-toxicological study of rats.

 

The research of the effect of sea buckthorn and wheat bran in food products on the physiological status of rats was analyzed according to the general condition, the dynamics of the total mass during daily weighing, the mass of feces during daily weighing, the morphological composition of peripheral blood, biochemical parameters of blood serum, and according to the data received after morphological examination of the internal organs of the gastrointestinal tract and liver from 50 rats.

 

Experimental technique

During the experiment, the clinical condition and behavior of rats, motor activity, appetite, the condition of the fur of the control and four experimental groups were monitored. The parameters of the body weight of laboratory animals, the average daily mass of the collected feces of the control and four experimental groups of rats were estimated using Sartorius electronic scales (Germany), followed by the calculation of average values and their standard deviations.

 

Blood chemistry

Blood from rats was taken for analysis from the tail vein in a volume of 2.0-2.5 ml. The study of the clinical blood test was carried out by instrumental method on hematological analyzers: PSE 90 Vet, Biochem SA (USA production).

Glucose level was assessed using a Labsystems kit (Finland), total protein, creatinine, and total bilirubin, as well as amylase and alkaline phosphatase activity, using a Diacom-Synteko kit (Russia). The level of total cholesterol was assessed using a kit company "Lachema" (Czech Republic). The activity of alanine aminotransferase and aspartate aminotransferase was assessed using kits from Corway (Poland). Biochemical parameters and enzyme activity were assessed on a biochemical and semi-automatic analyzer FP-901 "Labsystems" (Finland).

 

Pathomorphological study

An autopsy was carried out with detailed recording and photographing of the material. Pathomorphological changes were studied on material from 50 euthanized animals. The autopsy of animals was carried out in the first 2 hours after euthanasia. For histological examination, samples of the internal organs of control and experimental animals were taken. To fix the pathological material, a 10% solution of neutral formalin was used.

Sections were obtained on a freezing microtome model 2515 (Reichert Wien). The prepared histological sections were stained with Ehrlich hematoxylin and eosin, followed by microscopy. The morphological structure of organs was studied in 30 ocular views of the microscope on various histological sections. A histological examination of the preparations was carried out under different magnifications with detailed logging and photographing of the studied areas.

Microphotography of histological preparations was carried out using a CANON Power Shot A460 IS camera.

 

Statistical analysis

Statistical analysis of the data was carried out using the licensed computer software package Statistika 10, StatSoft, Inc (Series 0411-R) and biomedical statistics methods with calculation of the average and standard error of mean. The normality of the distribution of quantitative data was checked by means of the Shapiro-Wilks test. For all indicators, including behavioral studies, with a normal data distribution, intergroup comparisons were performed with the use of the Student's t-test for independent samples at P<0.05.

 

Results

During the experiment, the clinical status of rats in the control and experimental groups was monitored. Studies have shown that replacing the carbohydrate and protein components of the main daily diet of laboratory groups does not adversely affect the clinical picture and behavioral reactions of rodents.

Visual inspection of all experimental animals throughout the entire experiment showed that the hairline of the rats was flattened to the body, the presence of shine and the absence of contamination were noted. The skin was characterized by integrity, moderate humidity and elasticity, as well as the presence of a specific odor. The behavior of the animals was active.

During the two months of research, animals of all groups showed positive dynamics of body weight gain, the most pronounced weight gain was noted in the No. 1 and No. 2 experimental groups, which received a diet with partial replacement of grain and bread, respectively, on a shortbread cake with cottage cheese and shortbread cake with cottage cheese and sea buckthorn. This is due to an increase in the energy value of the daily diet of experimental animals of the first and second groups by 9.6% and 9.1%, respectively. Almost identical to the control group was the increase in body weight of animals in experimental groups No. 3 and No. 4, which received a diet with partial replacement of meat and meat and fish meal with chicken cutlets and chicken cutlets with bran (Table 5).

 

Table 5. The dynamics of body weight and feces in rats

Animal groups

Observation periods

Before experiment

1 month

2 months

Dynamics of body weight, g

Control group

166.6±26.5

212.5±26.5

271.6±26.5

Experimental group №1

172.3±26.5

221.4±26.5

289.3±26.5

Experimental group №2

164.5±26.5

234.5±26.5

293.4±26.5

Experimental group №3

158.9±26.5

211.3±26.5

253.8±26.5

Experimental group №4

167.9±26.5

206.1±26.5

257.9±26.5

Dynamics of feces, g

Control group

10.6±1.4

11.2±1.1

12.6±1.3

Experimental group №1

12.3±1.1

12.1±1.1

12.8±1.4

Experimental group №2

11.5±1.3

12.1±1.2

13.4±1.4

Experimental group №3

9.9±1.8

13.7±1.4

14.5±1.6

Experimental group №4

10.7±1.2

17.6±1.3*

19.7±1.7*

Data presented as mean with standard deviation – M±SD.

 

At the same time, in subgroup No. 4, by the end of the first and second months, a reliably high weight of feces from rats fed a diet containing chicken cutlets was recorded, respectively, 17.6+1.3 g and 19.7+1.7 g, enriched with wheat bran (Table 5).

A study of the morphological composition of the peripheral blood of rats carried out throughout the experiment, after two months of daily feeding rats with enriched with the foods, did not reveal statistically significant differences in the number of red blood cells, leukocytes, platelets and hemoglobin levels in experimental animals compared with the control group rats fed a standard diet (Table 6).

 

Table 6. The morphological composition of rat peripheral blood

Observation period

Animal groups

control

experiment №1

experiment №2

experiment №3

experiment №4

the number of red blood cells, 1012/l

Before experiment (background)

7.1±0.6

6.7±0.4

6.9±0.8

7.0±0.3

6.4±0.3

1 month

6.9±0.4

7.0±0.6

7.0±0.4

6.6±0.6

7.0±0.3

2 months

7.0±0.3

6.8±0.5

6.7±0.3

6.9±0.5

6.8±0.6

white blood cell number, 109/l

Background

9.9±0.4

9.4±0.3

9.5±0.4

9.7±0.5

9.7±0.4

1 month

9.6±0.8

9.7±0.4

9.6±0.6

9.5±0.4

9.9±0.3

2 months

9.7±0.9

9.8±0.4

9.5±0.4

9.6±0.4

9.7±0.4

Platelet number, 109/l

Background

734±26

728±22

715±20

727±19

730±26

1 month

712±28

730±18

712±29

733±22

737±23

2 months

713±29

723±21

728±21

712±18

727±16

hemoglobin level, g/l

Background

98±5

103±4

99±8

98±6

99±9

1 month

101±6

99±8

102±6

101±5

98±8

2 months

102±3

103±5

103±5

99±5

98±9

 

The possible toxic effects on the liver and pancreas of food additives included in the new diets of feeding experimental groups of rats were studied by analyzing the activity of alanine and aspartate aminotransferases, alkaline phosphatease and amylase. Throughout the entire two-month experiment, the results of the activity of the above enzymes in the blood serum of all experimental rat groups did not go beyond the physiological norm characteristic of this type of laboratory animals and did not significantly differ from the indicators in the control group (Table 7).

 

Table 7. The activity of rat serum enzymes

Observation period

Animal groups

control

experiment №1

experiment №2

experiment №3

experiment №4

Alanine aminotransferase, u/l

Before experiment (background)

92.4±5.3

86.7±6.5

84.7±3.4

90.2±2.2

91.6±6.7

1 month

82.3±4.4

89.4±5.7

92.1±4.3

84.4±6.7

86.9±8.3

2 months

88.4±4.3

91.2±4.7

85.4±8.8

87.4±5.6

91.1±6.7

Aspartate aminotransferase, u/l

Background

141.6±9.5

133.8±9.8

136.1±7.4

137.8±6.4

139.6±3.5

1 month

138.6±8.8

138.4±4.5

140.2±8.2

139.1±9.8

137.7±5.5

2 months

136.2±9.5

140.2±4.3

138.1±9.6

136.6±9.4

141.2±9.7

Alkaline phosphatase, u/l

bacKground

825.7±33.6

812.6±44.2

808.8±63.4

844.1±34.8

816.8±46.6

1 month

844.6±43.3

857.4±28.2

834.4±42.3

856.3±38.3

855.5±38.5

2 months

866.4±23.2

823.6±36.3

870.8±28.2

874.7±33.2

869.4±36.4

Amylase, u/l

Background

832.4±78.8

812.8±54.6

788.4±62.3

798.8±44.5

808.6±56.8

1 month

806.7±40.4

746.2±32.4

765.8±54.6

822.6±32.8

768.8±62.7

2 months

787.7±44.0

798.3±48.9

785.7±10.7

762.1±56.2

730.2±50.4

 

Significant changes in the level of total protein in the blood serum of experimental groups, which indicates the stability of the protein-forming function of the liver, were not revealed. Indicators of creatinine levels, as a marker of possible renal failure, did not differ from those in the control group. The level of total bilirubin in the blood serum of laboratory animals of experimental and control groups throughout the experiment remained in all animals within the physiological norm from 0.7 to 6.5 μmol/l. At the same time, in the experimental group of rats No. 2, which received a partial replacement of carbohydrates with a shortbread cake with cottage cheese and sea buckthorn in the daily diet, from the end of the first month of observation, a significant decrease in the total bilirubin content was observed, in comparison with the control and other studied groups of laboratory animals (Table 8).

 

Table 8. Biochemical parameters of rat serum

Observation period

Animal groups

control

experiment №1

experiment №2

experiment №3

experiment №4

Total protein level, g/l

Before experiment (background)

67.8+2.8

64.6+2.3

66.6+2.5

64.4+2.7

68.9+2.6

1 month                                       

67.9+2.4

63.9+3.7

69.9+1.9

69.8+3.1

70.2+2.2

2 months

66.0+2.9

64.2+2.8

63.4+3.2

68.6+2.2

71.5+2.0

Creatinine level, μmol/l

Background

77.7+13.3

81.2+11.5

72.4+16.6

68.9+13.5

78.8+15.5

1 month

69.9+18.7

74.9+16.7

74.9+11.8

80.2+11.2

76.7+16.4

2 months

75.0+14.5

68.4+18.6

62.1+12.5

76.4+15.7

80.2+12.2

The level of total bilirubin, μmol/l

Background

2.6+0.7

2.2+0.4

2.7+0.8

2.5+0.7

2.3+0.6

1 month

2.4+0.6

1.9+0.6

0.8+0.1*

2.6+0.4

2.7+0.8

2 months

2.9+0.8

2.3+0.7

1.2+0.1*

2.1+0.6

2.6+0.4

Glucose level, μmol/l

Background

7.2 ±0.4

7.0 ±0.6

7.4 ±0.4

7.2 ±0.6

7.3 ±0.5

1 month

7.1 ±0.7

9.2 ±0.6*

8.6 ±0.6

7.4 ±0.4

7.6 ±0.6

2 months

7.3 ±0.6

9.8+0.2*

9.6+0.4*

7.4 ±0.6

7.8+0.6

Total cholesterol, μmol/l

Background

2.3±0.4

2.2±0.3

2.0±0.3

2.1±0.2

2.3±0.4

1 month

2.2±0.3

2.8±0.5

2.6±0.4

1.8±0.3

1.5±0.3

2 months

2.4±0.5

2.6±0.4

2.7±0.5

1.5±0.3

1.3±0.1

Data presented as mean with standard deviation – M±SD.

 

To assess the effect of the additives on carbohydrate metabolism and pancreatic function, in the two-month study of feeding experimental animals with experimental diets, the glucose in the blood serum of rats was studied.

Studies have shown that in experimental groups No. 1 and No. 2, the level of glucose in the blood of animals, as an indicator of carbohydrate metabolism characterizing the function of the pancreas, was significantly higher than in the control group and groups No. 3 and No. 4. The glucose content in the blood serum of experimental rats of the groups No. 1 and No. 2, which additionally received a shortbread cake with cottage cheese and sea buckthorn in the daily diet, respectively, reached 9.8+0.2 μmol/l and 9.6+0 4 μmol/l. In the control group and experimental groups No. 3 and No. 4, the glucose content in the blood serum of experimental animals did not exceed the limit level of 7.8+0.6 μmol/l. Moreover, all parameters of the glucose content in the blood serum of the studied rats did not go beyond the limits of permissible physiological fluctuations (from 7.0 μmol/l to 10.0 μmol/l), which is typical of this type of laboratory animals (Table 8).

Studies have shown that the analyzed rations of all experimental and control groups of animals did not affect the level of serum cholesterol. The exception was the 4th experimental group of animals, which received up to 300 mg of bran with a daily diet. The cholesterol level in the blood serum of experimental animals of this group at the end of the first month of research was 1.5+0.3 μmol/l, and at the end of the experiment 1.3+0.1 μmol/l, which was 1.4-1,7 times lower than the cholesterol content in animals of the control and other experimental groups (Table 8).

During the visual examination of the internal organs of experimental animals after autopsy, it was noted that the lungs are uniformly colored, light pink in color, with a fluffy consistency. The liver is not enlarged, the edges are sharp, dark cherry in color, with an elastic consistency, there are lighter areas without clear boundaries. The gall bladder is filled with yellow-green bile. The heart is round oval, the pericardium is transparent, smooth, shiny, in the cavity of the cardiac shirt there is a small amount of light yellow opalescent liquid. The kidneys are gray in color with a dense consistency, the adipose capsuleis not expressed. For histological examination, samples of the liver and small intestine were taken. To fix the pathological material used a 10% solution of neutral formalin. Slices were obtained on a freezing microtome, part of the pathological material was embedded in paraffin blocks. When staining sections, hematoxylin-eosin was used.

During histological examination of the liver in the experimental groups, an increase and preservation of the beam structure of the organ was observed (Figure 2,3). Lobules did not have clear boundaries due to poorly developed interlobular connective tissue.

 

Figure 2. Liver. Experienced group No. 4.

 

Figure 3. Liver. Experimental group No. 2.

 

Analyzing the data presented in Figures 2, 3, we should noted that the histological structure of the liver of rats of experimental animals had a more pronounced beam and capillary structure, compared with the control group.

The histological results of the study of the small intestine of the experimental groups are presented in Figures 4, 5.

 

Figure 4. The small intestine. Ex-perimental group No. 2.

 

Figure 5. Small intestine. Experi-mental group No. 4.

 

According to the data obtained during the histological examination of the small intestine of the experimental groups of animals (Figure 4, 5), we can conclude that the villi have the correct shape, the epithelial cover is preserved. There are small accumulations of lymphoid cells between the glands. In the small intestine of sub-experimental group No. 2, an average thickness of mucous membranes of 14% was revealed.

The substitution of the carbohydrate-containing part in the standard daily diet of control animals, for bread and cereal, with an equal weight quantity due to shortbread cake with cottage cheese and a similar product with sea buckthorn for experimental rats, led to a slight increase in the caloric content of diets. So, the caloric value of the diet of the control group of animals was 111.87 kcal per day, the caloric values of the diets of the first and second experimental groups were higher and amounted to 122.57 cal and 122.07 kcal, respectively. Feeding with higher calorie diets for two months of the experiment contributed to a significant increase in body weight of experimental animals of the first and second groups, in comparison with the control group of rats (see Table 5).

The increased caloric values of the diets of the first and second experimental groups of animals is explained by a higher content of sand fats in cakes (19.5% and 17.1%, respectively) due to the presence of 9% fat and fresh sea buckthorn and simple sugars in the cottage cheese recipes (respectively 1.4% and 1.33%). The faster weight gain of animals of the second group could also be facilitated by the presence of organic acids in sea buckthorn, which leads to increased animal appetite and improved metabolic processes in their body.

On the contrary, in the experimental groups of rats No. 3 and 4, in the diet of which meat and meat and fish meal were substituted respectively with chicken cutlets and similar cutlets with wheat bran, the animals gained body weight similarly to control rodents. Moreover, in the 4th experimental group of rats, by the end of the experiment, the most insignificant increase in body weight was observed in comparison with other groups of animals of the experimental and control groups of animals. However, there was no significant difference in in the body weight lag compared with the control group of animals that received up to 300 mg (1200 mg/kg) of bran per day.

At the same time, we should note a significant difference in the average weight of feces of the 4th group of rats, which is 19.7+1.7 mg, which is 1.4-1.9 times higher than the mass of weight of feces of the other experimental and control animals (Table 5). This fact is due to the well-known so-called “healing” effect of bran on the excretory function of the intestine, associated with accelerating the formation of fecal masses and their excretion from the body due to the increased peristalsis of the latter.

A distinctive feature of the diet of the third and fourth experimental groups was a higher content of dietary fiber in the daily diet of animals compared to the control group, these indicators were respectively 1.05 and 1.11 times higher.

Pathological studies did not reveal visible changes in the internal organs of the experimental groups of rats, compared with the control group of animals. The presented characteristic of the liver is characteristic of clinically healthy animals, which allows us to conclude that the use of the studied functional ingredients has a positive effect on the clinical and physiological state of the liver.

Histological studies of the internal organs of the 4th experimental group of animals confirm the above facts, which was clearly established in the study of the small intestine. Thus, in the small intestine of experimental animals of the 4th group, an average 14% thickening of the mucous membranes was revealed, which in turn improves the digestion and absorption of the necessary nutrients from the small intestine, and further promotes faster formation and removing feces from the large intestine of the animal.

The positive effect of wheat bran was also observed in rats of the 4th experimental group and in the study of the cholesterol level in the blood serum of rodents. So, in this group of animals, in comparison with the rest of the experimental and control groups, a significant (p<0.05) lowest (1.3+0.1 mmol/l) serum cholesterol content was observed, which is associated with the ability plant fibers included in the diet of experimental rats to bind cholesterol in the intestine, remove it from the body and thereby prevent penetration into the blood. At the same time, this level of cholesterol corresponded to the physiological norm for animals of this species (1.0-2.9 mmol/l).

The low level of total bilirubin in the blood serum of rats of the 2nd experimental group, amounting to 0.8+0.1 μmol/l at the end of the first month of research and 1.2+0.1 μmol/l at the end of the experiment, fell within the physiological limits of fluctuations characteristic of this type of laboratory animals and apparently was associated with a high content of 0.2 mg (1.0 mg/kg) of ascorbic acid in the diet of this group of animals ; the ascorbic acid entered the bloodstream and violated the confirmation of bilirubin due to oxidation of bile pigment.

The above assumption is also supported by the analysis of the morphological composition of the peripheral blood of rats of this group, where the leukocyte and hemoglobin indices were identical with the control ones. The absence of pathology associated with renal failure, which causes a decrease in total bilirubin, is also evidenced by the results of pathomorphological studies, where the condition of the kidneys and adrenal glands was identical to the condition of the internal organs of the control group of animals.

Significantly high, yet within physiological norms, the level of glucose in the blood serum of the experimental animals of groups No. 1 and No. 2, which received a cake with cottage cheese and a cake with cottage cheese and sea buckthorn, was due to the presence of simple and easily assimilated mono- and disaccharides. It should be noted that the content of the latter at the level of 34.0 mg (130 mg/kg) exceeded more than a hundred times the content of simple sugars in the diet of experimental animals of the 3rd and 4th groups, while in the diet of the control group easily digestible saccharides are practically absent. In addition to that, histological studies did not reveal pathological changes in the tissues of the liver or pancreas in any of the studied experimental groups of animals, which is associated with good solubility and rapid excretion of simple sugars from animals.

 

Discussion

The results of this research are largely comparable with the numerous works of scientists dedicated to the therapeutic and prophylactic effect of dietary fiber on the body in various diseases. In particular, the work by Zwiki H. et al 2019 [19] points to the positive effect of dietary fiber in some forms of diabetes [15-19]. For many years, studies confirming the therapeutic effect of dietary fiber in obesity including in children and pregnant women, as well as diseases of the cardiovascular system, oncological and some others have been carried out [20-21]. It should also be noted that the beneficial effect on dietary fiber is confirmed when they are part of food products, in contrast to dietary fiber in dietary supplements, which, for example, did not have an anti-cancer effect, and sometimes, on the contrary, increased the risk of developing cancer [22].

This research paper proves the functional effect of chicken cutlets which contain wheat bran in their recipe, which is another example that confirms the need for a competent approach to the diets of a modern human, including dietary fiber in its native form.

In scientific periodicals, there are quite few research articles dedicated to the study of sea buckthorn and its physiological effects, despite the fact that this product has been used in medical practice and nutrition of Asia and Europe for many centuries [23]. However, the nutritional composition of sea buckthorn allows us to recognize this product as bio-functional, which indicates the feasibility of its use in food technology for the products with functional properties [24, 25].

 The research literature contains the information on the pharmacological properties of sea buckthorn, for example, its ability to delay the insulin reaction and improve the glycemic profile [26], improve the activity of the cardiovascular and immune systems [27].

However, the studies of the nutritional profile of sea buckthorn as a physiologically functional ingredient applicable in food technology, from the point of view of evidence-based medicine, have not been reflected in scientific periodicals. The research presented by the authors showed that the capabilities of this unusually useful product in combination with cottage cheese, taking into account the hedonic preferences of a human, have a beneficial effect on the body.

According to the authors, the actual health benefits derived from the consumption of familiar foods with a given nutrient profile and proven preventive effects are of paramount importance in the daily nutrition of a modern human.

 

Conclusion

The result of the research was the introduction of food products with the addition of fresh sea buckthorn into the diet of experimental animals has a positive effect on the behavioral reactions of rats, enhances appetite and faster growth of animals. The addition of wheat bran to the diet of experimental animals caused a more intensive absorption of food products in the small intestine, enhanced the formation of feces, intensive emptying of the large intestine, and contributed to a decrease in the level of total cholesterol in the body of laboratory animals.

Thus, the studied products are functional, intended for the systematic use in diets by all age groups of a healthy population. The products have scientifically-based and confirmed properties, reduce the risk of gastrointestinal and liver diseases, and improve health due to the presence of functional food ingredients. For instance, native dietary fiber and PP factor vitamin were found in chicken cutlets with bran, whereas riboflavin, tocopherol equivalent and β-carotene were found in a cake with cottage cheese and sea buckthorn.

 

Conflict of interest

Conflict of interest is not claimed. There is no commercial interest of individuals or legal entities in the results of the study. There is no description of patent or any other (except copyright) objects in the article.

 

Ethical approval

Experimental studies were conducted with the permission of the Ethics Committee of the University and in accordance with EC Directive 86/609 / EEC, in accordance with the legislation of the Russian Federation regulating animal experiments in accordance with the requirements of good laboratory practice.

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About the Authors: 

Olga S. Fomenko – PhD, Assistant Professor, Department of Food Technology,   Saratov State Agrarian University named after N.I. Vavilov, Saratov, Russia. https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2700-3119
Anastasiya N. Makarova – PhD, Assistant Professor, Department of Food Technology, Saratov State Agrarian University named after N.I. Vavilov, Saratov, Russia. https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6998-6216
Inna V. Simakova – DSc, Professor, Department of Food Technology,  Saratov State Agrarian University named after N.I. Vavilov, Saratov, Russia. https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0998-8396
Yuriy Yu. Eliseev – DSc, Head of the Department of General Hygiene and Ecology Saratov State Medical University named after V.I. Razumovsky, Saratov, Russia. https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6507-476X
Yuliya V. Eliseeva – PhD, Assistant Professor, Department of General Hygiene and Ecology, Saratov State Medical University named after V.I. Razumovsky, Saratov, Russia. https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4496-9107
Elena N. Artemova – DSc, Professor, Department of Food Technology and resTaurant Management, Orel state University named after I. S. Turgenev, Orel, Russia. https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7203-4475

Received 15 April 2018, Revised 10 August 2020, Accepted 24 August 2020 
© 2018, Fomenko O.S., Makarova A.N., Simakova I.V., Eliseev Yu.Yu., Eliseeva Yu.V., Artemova E.N.             
© 2018, Russian Open Medical Journal
Correspondence to Olga S. Fomenko. Address: Department of Food Technology, Saratov State Agrarian University, Saratov, Teatralnaya sq., 1, Russia.  Phone: +79063178981. E-mail: fomenkoos@mail.ru.

DOI: 
10.15275/rusomj.2020.0304