Methods development for interaction studies of polyphenols from mate (Ilex paraguariensis) with Ca, Cu, Co, Fe, Mg and Zn and (metallo) proteins

Abstract

Polyphenols are present in most plants and are part of human nutrition with intake of fruits and vegetables. They are known for their antioxidant properties.In animal tissues, polyphenols act minimizing the oxidation process of the proteins of the meat, which is one of the causes of deterioration and loss of softness during storage. Recently it was demonstrated that the stability of the chicken meat was improved when the birds received a supplement of 0.5% (v/v) of aqueous extract of mate. Studies show that the leaf yerba mate (Ilex paraguariensis St. Hilaire) is rich in polyphenolic compounds, with antioxidant properties. Minerals plays a key role in the metabolism of plants and animals, including man. The bioavailability of these minerals can be affected by complexation, e.g., polyphenols. It was shown that tannin (which are polyphenols) can complex up to 80% of some minerals added to the medium. In this work, mate will be supplementted to cattle (at concentrations between 0.25 and 1%) and the interactions that can occur between the polyphenols present in mate and minerals from feed and even with metals and (metallo) proteins from meat will be investigated. (AU)