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. 2023 Jan 28;12(2):304.
doi: 10.3390/antiox12020304.

Berberis microphylla G. Forst Intake Reduces the Cardiovascular Disease Plasmatic Markers Associated with a High-Fat Diet in a Mice Model

Lia Olivares-Caro  1   2 , Daniela Nova-Baza  1 , Claudia Radojkovic  2 , Luis Bustamante  1 , Daniel Duran  2 , Daniela Mennickent  1   2 , Victoria Melin  3 , David Contreras  4 , Andy J Perez  1 , Claudia Mardones  1   5
Affiliations

Berberis microphylla G. Forst Intake Reduces the Cardiovascular Disease Plasmatic Markers Associated with a High-Fat Diet in a Mice Model

Lia Olivares-Caro et al. Antioxidants (Basel). .

Abstract

Polyphenols are bioactive substances that participate in the prevention of chronic illnesses. High content has been described in Berberis microphylla G. Forst (calafate), a wild berry extensively distributed in Chilean-Argentine Patagonia. We evaluated its beneficial effect through the study of mouse plasma metabolome changes after chronic consumption of this fruit. Characterized calafate extract was administered in water, for four months, to a group of mice fed with a high-fat diet and compared with a control diet. Metabolome changes were studied using UHPLC-DAD-QTOF-based untargeted metabolomics. The study was complemented by the analysis of protein biomarkers determined using Luminex technology, and quantification of OH radicals by electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy. Thirteen features were identified with a maximum annotation level-A, revealing an increase in succinic acid, activation of tricarboxylic acid and reduction of carnitine accumulation. Changes in plasma biomarkers were related to inflammation and cardiovascular disease, with changes in thrombomodulin (-24%), adiponectin (+68%), sE-selectin (-34%), sICAM-1 (-24%) and proMMP-9 (-31%) levels. The production of OH radicals in plasma was reduced after calafate intake (-17%), especially for the group fed with a high-fat diet. These changes could be associated with protection against atherosclerosis due to calafate consumption, which is discussed from a holistic and integrative point of view.

Keywords: Berberis microphylla G. Forst; calafate; cardiovascular disease risk; metabolomic; polyphenols.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Box-plot proteins markers in endothelial dysfunction and adipokines related with metabolic risk factors. Data expressed as concentration in plasma samples (ng/mL or pg/mL) in different groups (mean X, median line and interquartile range in box-plot, * p < 0.05 H-Hcal N-Ncal). H—High-fat diet group; N—normal diet group; Hcal—High-fat diet group with calafate; Ncal—Normal diet with calafate.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Principal component analysis (PCA). (a) Score plot in negative mode and (b) Score plot in positive mode for method 1, method 2 and method 3. N and H in red, and Ncal and Hcal in green for each ionization mode. H—High-fat diet group; N—normal diet group; Hcal—High-fat diet group with calafate; Ncal—Normal diet with calafate.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Box plot features significantly (* p < 0.05) identified. H in red, Hcal in green, N in blue, Ncal in light blue and QC in pink. H—High-fat diet group; N—normal diet group; Hcal—High-fat diet group with calafate; Ncal—Normal diet with calafate; QC—Quality control. Y-axis corresponds to the peak area.
Figure 4
Figure 4
Heatmap of significant metabolites. H—High-fat diet group; N—normal diet group; Hcal—High-fat diet group with calafate; Ncal—Normal diet with calafate. C-20 to E-15 are the labels of each analyzed sample.
Figure 5
Figure 5
Proposal of the systemic effect caused by Berberis microphylla G. Forst (calafate) berries.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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