Guarana, Selenium, and L-Carnitine Supplementation Improves the Oxidative Profile but Fails to Reduce Tissue Damage in Rats with Osteoarthritis

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a progressive joint disease that is commonly managed with palliative drugs, many of which are associated with undesirable side effects. This study investigated the therapeutic potential of a novel supplementation with guarana, selenium, and L-carnitine (GSC) in a rat model of...

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Main Authors: Aline Zuanazzi Pasinato, José Eduardo Vargas, Julia Spanhol da Silva, Joana Grandó Moretto, Cibele Ferreira Teixeira, Verônica Farina Azzolin, Ivana Beatrice Mânica da Cruz, Camile da Rosa Trevisan, Emanuele Cristina Zub, Renato Puga, Verónica Inés Vargas, Grethel León-Mejía, Rômulo Pillon Barcelos
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-07-01
Series:Antioxidants
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3921/14/7/881
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author Aline Zuanazzi Pasinato
José Eduardo Vargas
Julia Spanhol da Silva
Joana Grandó Moretto
Cibele Ferreira Teixeira
Verônica Farina Azzolin
Ivana Beatrice Mânica da Cruz
Camile da Rosa Trevisan
Emanuele Cristina Zub
Renato Puga
Verónica Inés Vargas
Grethel León-Mejía
Rômulo Pillon Barcelos
author_facet Aline Zuanazzi Pasinato
José Eduardo Vargas
Julia Spanhol da Silva
Joana Grandó Moretto
Cibele Ferreira Teixeira
Verônica Farina Azzolin
Ivana Beatrice Mânica da Cruz
Camile da Rosa Trevisan
Emanuele Cristina Zub
Renato Puga
Verónica Inés Vargas
Grethel León-Mejía
Rômulo Pillon Barcelos
author_sort Aline Zuanazzi Pasinato
collection DOAJ
description Osteoarthritis (OA) is a progressive joint disease that is commonly managed with palliative drugs, many of which are associated with undesirable side effects. This study investigated the therapeutic potential of a novel supplementation with guarana, selenium, and L-carnitine (GSC) in a rat model of chemically induced OA. Forty male Wistar rats (8–9 weeks old) received intra-articular sodium monoiodoacetate (Mia) to induce OA, and were subsequently treated with GSC. Inflammatory and oxidative stress parameters were analyzed at the end of the experiment. GSC supplementation enhanced endogenous antioxidant defenses, suggesting systemic antioxidant activity. However, no histological improvement was observed. In silico analyses indicated that Mia-induced OA may involve a complex molecular environment that GSC, at the tested dose, failed to modulate at the site of injury. Despite the limited local effects, these findings support the systemic benefits of GSC and highlight the potential of natural compound-based strategies in OA management. Given the adverse effects of conventional pharmacotherapy, the development of alternative, naturally derived treatments remains a promising avenue for future research.
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series Antioxidants
spelling doaj-art-0dabfb676d94450c8d8d510b4537a4c62025-08-20T03:13:36ZengMDPI AGAntioxidants2076-39212025-07-0114788110.3390/antiox14070881Guarana, Selenium, and L-Carnitine Supplementation Improves the Oxidative Profile but Fails to Reduce Tissue Damage in Rats with OsteoarthritisAline Zuanazzi Pasinato0José Eduardo Vargas1Julia Spanhol da Silva2Joana Grandó Moretto3Cibele Ferreira Teixeira4Verônica Farina Azzolin5Ivana Beatrice Mânica da Cruz6Camile da Rosa Trevisan7Emanuele Cristina Zub8Renato Puga9Verónica Inés Vargas10Grethel León-Mejía11Rômulo Pillon Barcelos12Institute of Biological Sciences, University of Passo Fundo (UPF), Passo Fundo 99042-800, Rio Grande do Sul, BrazilLaboratory of Inflammatory and Neoplastic Cells, Department of Cell Biology, Federal University of Paraná (UFPR), Curitiba 80060-000, Paraná, BrazilGraduate Program in Toxicological Biochemistry, Center for Natural and Exact Sciences (CCNE), Federal University of Santa Maria (UFSM), Santa Maria 97105-900, Rio Grande do Sul, BrazilGraduate Program in Bioexperimentation, University of Passo Fundo (UPF), Passo Fundo 99042-800, Rio Grande do Sul, BrazilGraduate Program in Pharmacology, Federal University of Santa Maria (UFSM), Santa Maria 97105-900, Rio Grande do Sul, BrazilFoundation of the State University of Amazonas (FUNATI), State University of Amazonas, Manaus 69050-010, Amazonas, BrazilGraduate Program in Bioexperimentation, University of Passo Fundo (UPF), Passo Fundo 99042-800, Rio Grande do Sul, BrazilLaboratory of Inflammatory and Neoplastic Cells, Department of Cell Biology, Federal University of Paraná (UFPR), Curitiba 80060-000, Paraná, BrazilLaboratory of Inflammatory and Neoplastic Cells, Department of Cell Biology, Federal University of Paraná (UFPR), Curitiba 80060-000, Paraná, BrazilIsraelita Albert Einstein Hospital, São Paulo 05652-900, São Paulo, BrazilProgress and Health Foundation, 41092 Sevilla, Andalucia, SpainFacultad de Ciencias Básicas, Centro de Investigaciones en Ciencias de la Vida (CICV), Universidad Simón Bolívar, Barranquilla 080002, ColombiaInstitute of Biological Sciences, University of Passo Fundo (UPF), Passo Fundo 99042-800, Rio Grande do Sul, BrazilOsteoarthritis (OA) is a progressive joint disease that is commonly managed with palliative drugs, many of which are associated with undesirable side effects. This study investigated the therapeutic potential of a novel supplementation with guarana, selenium, and L-carnitine (GSC) in a rat model of chemically induced OA. Forty male Wistar rats (8–9 weeks old) received intra-articular sodium monoiodoacetate (Mia) to induce OA, and were subsequently treated with GSC. Inflammatory and oxidative stress parameters were analyzed at the end of the experiment. GSC supplementation enhanced endogenous antioxidant defenses, suggesting systemic antioxidant activity. However, no histological improvement was observed. In silico analyses indicated that Mia-induced OA may involve a complex molecular environment that GSC, at the tested dose, failed to modulate at the site of injury. Despite the limited local effects, these findings support the systemic benefits of GSC and highlight the potential of natural compound-based strategies in OA management. Given the adverse effects of conventional pharmacotherapy, the development of alternative, naturally derived treatments remains a promising avenue for future research.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3921/14/7/881osteoarthritisinflammationoxidative stressnutritional supplementnatural compounds
spellingShingle Aline Zuanazzi Pasinato
José Eduardo Vargas
Julia Spanhol da Silva
Joana Grandó Moretto
Cibele Ferreira Teixeira
Verônica Farina Azzolin
Ivana Beatrice Mânica da Cruz
Camile da Rosa Trevisan
Emanuele Cristina Zub
Renato Puga
Verónica Inés Vargas
Grethel León-Mejía
Rômulo Pillon Barcelos
Guarana, Selenium, and L-Carnitine Supplementation Improves the Oxidative Profile but Fails to Reduce Tissue Damage in Rats with Osteoarthritis
Antioxidants
osteoarthritis
inflammation
oxidative stress
nutritional supplement
natural compounds
title Guarana, Selenium, and L-Carnitine Supplementation Improves the Oxidative Profile but Fails to Reduce Tissue Damage in Rats with Osteoarthritis
title_full Guarana, Selenium, and L-Carnitine Supplementation Improves the Oxidative Profile but Fails to Reduce Tissue Damage in Rats with Osteoarthritis
title_fullStr Guarana, Selenium, and L-Carnitine Supplementation Improves the Oxidative Profile but Fails to Reduce Tissue Damage in Rats with Osteoarthritis
title_full_unstemmed Guarana, Selenium, and L-Carnitine Supplementation Improves the Oxidative Profile but Fails to Reduce Tissue Damage in Rats with Osteoarthritis
title_short Guarana, Selenium, and L-Carnitine Supplementation Improves the Oxidative Profile but Fails to Reduce Tissue Damage in Rats with Osteoarthritis
title_sort guarana selenium and l carnitine supplementation improves the oxidative profile but fails to reduce tissue damage in rats with osteoarthritis
topic osteoarthritis
inflammation
oxidative stress
nutritional supplement
natural compounds
url https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3921/14/7/881
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