Published in the Journal of Functional Foods, the study reported that the extract helps regulate blood sugar and cholesterol in older mice fed a high-fat diet. The extract also reduced fat buildup and inflammation in the liver that could lead to non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD).
Antioxidants and aging
The jaboticaba tree (Myrciaria jaboticaba) is a tropical fruit-bearing tree endemic to Brazil. It is popular for the black, grape-like fruits that pepper its trunk.
A team of researchers from the University of Campinas in Sao Paolo, Brazil found that the jaboticaba fruit contains plant compounds called anthocyanins. These compounds are red, blue or purple pigments found in brightly colored fruits like berries, grapes and pomegranates.
Besides their role in pigmentation, these compounds also act as potent antioxidants that neutralize free radicals. Free radicals are unstable molecules that can damage cells, proteins and DNA.
Free radicals are known to trigger premature aging that leads to fine lines, loose skin and dark spots. Aging is also linked to disruptions in essential internal functions like blood sugar regulation and fat metabolism.
In particular, older people are more susceptible to high blood sugar, frequent hormonal imbalances and fat accumulation in the liver. These metabolic changes are often linked to chronic conditions that are prevalent among older adults, such as Type 2 diabetes, heart disease and NAFLD.
The health benefits of jaboticaba peel extract
The researchers sought to determine if the jaboticaba fruit can inhibit the onset of these age-related chronic conditions. To do this, the team first obtained extracts from the fruit’s skin. They then conducted a 60-day experiment on seven groups of healthy mice.
The first group consisted of three-month-old mice fed a standard diet. The second and third groups featured 11-month-old mice fed a standard and a high-fat diet, respectively. The researchers noted that the high-fat diet had five times the amount of fat in the standard diet so that it could simulate the harmful effects of aging, such as high blood sugar, high cholesterol and impaired fat metabolism.
The fourth and fifth groups consisted of older mice fed a standard diet and the jaboticaba peel extract. The fourth group received a dose of 2.9 grams of the extract per kilogram of body weight (g/kg), while the fifth group received a dose of 5.8 g/kg.
The sixth and seventh groups featured older mice fed a high-fat diet. These groups received the same doses as the fourth and fifth groups.
At the end of the experiment, the team found that the extract prevented weight gain in the older mice fed the high-fat diet. It also reduced inflammation linked to high blood sugar and fat accumulation in the liver.
Furthermore, the extract reduced the amount of “bad” cholesterol that could clog the arteries and increased the amount of “good” cholesterol in the blood, thus decreasing the risk of heart disease. (Related: Drinking wine in moderation can improve “good” cholesterol levels.)
The researchers also found that, at a higher dose, the extract proved to be more effective. They therefore concluded that jaboticaba peel extract can reduce the risk of prediabetes and NAFLD.
The team has conducted further research on the extract to determine if it can halt the progression of prostate cancer. Here, they found that the extract can treat inflamed prostate tissue and reduce lesions in the prostate gland.
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