Effect of diet supplemented with African Star Apple Fruit Pulp on purinergic, cholinergic and monoaminergic enzymes, TNF-α expression and redox imbalance in the brain of hypertensive rats.

OBJECTIVE: This study examined whether diet supplemented with African star apple fruit pulp (FP) can mitigate the effect of high blood pressure on brain neurochemicals, histopathology and expression of genes linked with neuroinflammation. METHODS: Rats were administered with cyclosporine (25 mg/kg.bw) to induce hypertension and were fed with or without FP supplemented diet. Purinergic (Nucleoside triphosphate diphosphohydrolases [NTPdase] and adenosine deaminase [ADA]) cholinergic (acetylcholinesterase [AChE]) and monoaminergic (monoamine oxidase-B) enzymes were assessed in treated and untreated hypertensive rats' brains. Oxidative stress biomarkers (catalase, glutathione-S-transferase, thiols, reactive oxygen species [ROS] and malondialdehyde [MDA]), as well as AChE, tumour necrosis factor and receptor (TNF-α and TNF-α-R) expression, were also determined. RESULTS: FP supplemented diet significantly reduced NTPdase and ADA activities and increased Na+/K+-ATPase activities in hypertensive rats' brains compared to the untreated group. Furthermore, FP reduced acetylcholinesterase and monoamine oxidase-B activities compared to the hypertensive group. Redox imbalance was observed in hypertensive rats with inhibition of antioxidant enzymes and high levels of ROS and MDA. However, FP supplemented diet improved antioxidant enzymes, reduced ROS and MDA production in the brain of hypertensive rats. High blood pressure also triggered upregulation of AChE, TNF-α and TNF-α-R while feeding with FP supplemented diet downregulated the genes. CONCLUSION: This study demonstrates the neuroprotective role of FP supplemented diet against alterations in neurochemicals associated with Alzheimer's disease, oxidative stress-induced neuronal damage and expression of genes linked with neuroinflammation. Moreover, studies on animal behaviour and human subjects are required to confirm these beneficial effects.

Diet Supplemented with Chrysophyllum albidum G. Don (Sapotaceae) Fruit Pulp Improves Reproductive Function in Hypertensive Male Rats.

Hypertension has been implicated as a risk factor of reproductive disorders. High blood pressure may trigger impaired sperm quality and biomarkers of reproductive disorders. This study aims to investigate the effect of diet supplemented with Chrysophyllum albidum fruit pulp (FP) on sperm parameters, reproductive hormones, and antioxidant markers in testes and epididymis of hypertensive rats. Male Wistar rats were divided into seven groups (n = 10): normotensive control rats [NC], cyclosporine (25 mg/kg)-induced hypertensive rats [Hypert], hypertensive rats treated with captopril (10 mg/kg/day) [Hypert + Capt], hypertensive [Hypert + 2%FP and Hypert + 4%FP], and normotensive [2%FP and 4%FP] rats treated with 2% and 4% of diet supplemented with African star apple fruit's pulp [FP]. Hemodynamic parameters (arterial pressure, diastolic, and systolic pressure), sperm count, sperm motility, reproductive hormones, reactive oxygen species, and malondialdehyde levels were assessed. Diet supplemented with FP fed to hypertensive rats reduced mean arterial pressure, diastolic and systolic blood pressure, and heart rate. Furthermore, FP improved sperm quality in hypertensive rats by increasing sperm count, sperm motility with a concomitant reduction in sperm abnormality. FP also increased 3ß and 17ß-hydroxysteroid hydrogenase (3ß-HSD and 17ß -HSD) activities, as well as testosterone, luteinizing hormone, and follicle-stimulating hormone levels. Besides, FP triggered a significant increase in 3ß-HSD, 17ß -HSD, and STAR expression in rats' testicular tissues. Diet supplemented with FP also reduced ROS and malondialdehyde levels and triggered an increase in thiol levels, catalase, and glutathione-S-transferase activities. This study revealed that FP supplemented diet improved sexual function in cyclosporine-induced hypertensive rats by reducing blood pressure and modulation of sperm parameters, steroidogenic enzymes, and reproductive hormones.