Avaliação da toxicidade do óleo de castanha-do-pará em ratas prenhas e sua prole, durante a gestação e a lactação .

Abstract

Brazil nuts, obtained from the fruit of Bertholletia excelsa, are widely consumed around the world due to their health benefits. However, the possible toxicological potentials of the consumption of this product and its derivatives are not reported in the literature. Therefore, the objective of this study was to analyze the toxicological potential in different organs of pregnant rats and their offspring after ingestion of crude and refined Brazil nut oil, during pregnancy and lactation. Methodologically, Wistar rats were used as experimental models. In these animals, the following compounds were administered during pregnancy and lactation: distilled water (control group), 3 ml/kg of crude oil or 3 ml/kg of refined oil. After the treatment period, the animals were euthanized and the organs (brain, liver and intestine) were collected for histological and morphometric analysis. It was possible to observe that the crude oil affected histologically the brain of male offspring, the liver of the mother rats and offspring. Furthermore, the crude oil morphometrically affected the height of the enterocytes of the parent rats and offspring. In turn, the refined oil histologically affected the brain of female offspring, as well as morphometrically altered the intestine of parent rats and female offspring. Therefore, it is concluded that 3ml/kg of Brazil nut oil caused toxicity in some organs in experimental rat models. Thus, it is suggested that further studies are needed, in order to better understand the toxic potential of Brazil nut oil in other animal models and its safe use in humans.