Drinking of flavonoid-rich juice of Aronia melanocarpa may affect fatty acid phospholipid compositions in rat liver

Abstract

Aronia melanocarpa fruits are among the richest plant sources of phenolic substances, mainly anthocyanins. Aronia fruit juice and derived flavonoids were evaluated in a number of studies for high antioxidative activity, whose sequels were many beneficial physiological and metabolic effects, like hepato-protective, anti-inflammatory and antitumor. This study was designed to explore the effects of one month intensive consumption of aronia juice on phospholipid compositions in rat liver. Three experimental groups of young male rats were being supplied for 34 days with different drinking solutions ad libitum: 1. (ARO group) 20% (m/m) master aronia juice in tap water; 2. (MIX) 5% master aronia juice + 15% juice reconstruct (without flavonoids); 3. (PLC) 20% juice reconstruct. The animals were sacrificed on day 35 and their livers were weighed and used for analysis. The average mass of liver in ARO group was somewhat higher (13-14%) than in other two groups. In comparison with PLC, both experimental groups exhibited significantly lower proportions of stearic acid (18:0) and arachidonic acid (20:4), whilst the level of MUFA was increased only in MIX group on account of vaccenic acid elevation (18:1(7)). Also, there was a certain increase of omega-3 PUFA with a decline of omega 6/omega-3 PUFA ratio in both groups that consumed aronia juice. All these changes in the liver phospholipid compositions, which were induced by everyday drinking of flavonoid-rich aronia juice, appeared to be favorable regarding the healthy ratios of the liver fatty acid contents.