[The study of physiological effect of fruit and vegetable powders in animal experiment]

The results of the study of the mineral and vitamin composition of fruit and vegetable powders, as well as their influence on the clinical and physiological parameters in laboratory animals (body weight, behavior patterns, functional state of the cardiovascular and nervous systems, general clinical and biochemical parameters of blood) were obtained. The study was performed on white Wistar rats initial body weight 190±20 g that were previously kept in quarantine for 5 days. One control group and six experimental groups (6 animals in each) were formed. Within 28 days animals from experimental groups were administered the diet supplemented with fruit or vegetable powder (carrot, squash, beet, apples, cabbage, pumpkin) in an amount of 3% by weight of the feed. When carrot powder was consumed, amplification processes of catabolism of proteins, fats and carbohydrates, as evidenced by an increase in blood levels of bilirubin, activity of alkaline phosphatase, GGT, LDH and significant reduction of cholesterol and triglyceride level occurred. In animals that received zucchini powder, body weight increased by 15.6% compared to the initial, as well as the activation of the immune response, enhance of carbohydrate metabolism (urea level and AST activity decreased under normal blood level of total protein, albumin fraction, bilirubin, creatinine, and LDH and ALT activity) and fat metabolism (cholesterol and triglyceride level reducing) was observed. Consumption of beet powder caused an increase in the number of red blood cells and platelets, elevated protein and fat metabolism (decrease in albumin, bilirubin, creatinine and urea level at normal parameters of total protein, glucose, AST activity, marked decrease in the level of triglycerides and cholesterol), had a stimulating effect on the heart (blood pressure and pulse rate increased). Consumption of apple powder caused the activation of the immune response, improved blood formation, activated energy metabolism (decrease in creatinine, urea, albumin, bilirubin, cholesterol and triglycerides level, AST, ALT and alkaline phosphatase activity), slowed heart rate and had a hypotensive effect. After uptake of cabbage powder, weight gain by 21.7% from the initial weight, increase in alkaline phosphatase and GTT activity, activation of protein metabolism (decrease in the number of total protein, albumin, bilirubin level) has been revealed. In the study of orienting-motor functions it was found that physical activity and «mink» reflex increased in this animals as well as swimming time before exhaustion raised by 27.1% compared to control animals. Body weight increased mostly pronounced (by 29.0% of the original) when pumpkin powder was consumed. Addition of pumkin powder contributed to the activation of blood immune system; protein metabolism increase (raise of total protein and urea, reduction in bilirubin level, AST activity); the duration of swimming to exhaustion increased by 37.9%, compared with the control group. No any negative deviation was found in the state of animals under administration of investigated plant powders.