Anti-obesity and cardioprotective effects of cinnamic acid in high fat diet- induced obese rats.

Obesity is a chronic metabolic disorder that is associated with numerous diseases including hyperlipidemia, diabetes mellitus, hypertension, atherosclerosis, cardiovascular disease, and cancer. Cinnamic acid is a phytochemical compound having many biological effects and could be considered for the management of obesity. This study is aimed to assess the possible anti-obesity and cardioprotective properties of cinnamic acid (CA) in high fat diet-fed rats (HFD). Male Wistar rats were divided into 4 groups. They received normal diet, HFD diet, HFD supplemented with fluvastatin (2 mg/kg/day) or cinnamic acid (30 mg/kg/day) for 7 weeks. The results showed an increase in body weight of HFD rats by ~27 % as compared to control group. Moreover, serum lipase activity underwent a significant rise by 103 % which led to an increase in the levels of total cholesterol (T-Ch), triglycerides (TG), LDL-cholesterol in serum of untreated HFD-fed rats. Furthermore, the concentration of leptin and angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) activity exhibited remarkable increases in serum of HFD-fed rats as compared to controls. Whereas, the administration of CA to HFD-fed rats improved the body weight gain and serum lipid profile and reverted back near to normal the activities of lipase and ACE. In addition, the echocardiography evidenced that CA is able to protect the aorta and aortic arch and avoided vasoconstriction by increasing their diameters and improved liver steatosis and kidney indices of toxicity. Overall, these results suggest that cinnamic acid exerts anti-obesity and antihypertensive effects through inhibition of lipid digestive enzymes and ACE.

Cardioprotective effect of linseed oil against isoproterenol-induced myocardial infarction in Wistar rats: a biochemical and electrocardiographic study

The present study was designed to evaluate the cardioprotective effect of Tunisian flaxseed oil (Linum usitatissimum) against isoproterenol-induced myocardial infarction in rats by studying hypertensive and cardiac damage markers especially electrocardiographic changes and troponin T serum level. In vitro, the extracted oil showed an important inhibition of angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) with an IC50 = 85.96 μg/ml. According to chemical analysis, this extract is composed essentially of alpha linolenic acid (ALA), an n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid (58.59 %). Male rats were randomly divided into three groups, namely control (C), isoproterenol (ISO), and isoproterenol-treated group with flaxseed oil (FO + ISO). Isoproterenol injection showed changes in ECG pattern, including ST-segment elevation (diagnostic of myocardial infarction), increase in the serum levels ofTroponin T and cardiac injury markers (creatine kinase-MB (CK-MB), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), aspartate transaminase (AST), and alanine transaminase (ALT)). However, Linum oil pre-co-treatment prevented almost all the parameters isoproterenol-induced myocardial infarction in rats. Results of the present study proved that flaxseed oil has a significant effect by heart protection against isoproterenol-induced myocardial infarction through beneficial effect of the important fraction of ALA

Cardioprotective effect of linseed oil against isoproterenol-induced myocardial infarction in Wistar rats: a biochemical and electrocardiographic study.

The present study was designed to evaluate the cardioprotective effect of Tunisian flaxseed oil (Linum usitatissimum) against isoproterenol-induced myocardial infarction in rats by studying hypertensive and cardiac damage markers especially electrocardiographic changes and troponin T serum level. In vitro, the extracted oil showed an important inhibition of angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) with an IC50 = 85.96 µg/ml. According to chemical analysis, this extract is composed essentially of alpha linolenic acid (ALA), an n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid (58.59 %). Male rats were randomly divided into three groups, namely control (C), isoproterenol (ISO), and isoproterenol-treated group with flaxseed oil (FO + ISO). Isoproterenol injection showed changes in ECG pattern, including ST-segment elevation (diagnostic of myocardial infarction), increase in the serum levels of Troponin T and cardiac injury markers (creatine kinase-MB (CK-MB), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), aspartate transaminase (AST), and alanine transaminase (ALT)). However, Linum oil pre-co-treatment prevented almost all the parameters isoproterenol-induced myocardial infarction in rats. Results of the present study proved that flaxseed oil has a significant effect by heart protection against isoproterenol-induced myocardial infarction through beneficial effect of the important fraction of ALA.

Inhibition of key enzymes related to diabetes and hypertension by Eugenol in vitro and in alloxan-induced diabetic rats.

The present study investigated the effect of treating diabetic rats with eugenol (EG). In vitro enzyme activity was measured in the presence of eugenol, and it was found to inhibit pancreatic α-amylase (IC(50) = 62.53 µg/mL) and lipase (IC(50) = 72.34 µg/mL) as well as angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) activity (IC50 = 130.67 µg/mL). In vivo, EG reduced the activity of amylase in serum, pancreas and intestine also the peak level of glucose by 60% compared to diabetic rats. Furthermore, eugenol similar to acarbose reduced serum glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c), lipase and ACE levels. In addition, treatments with EG showed notable decrease in serum total-cholesterol, triglycerides and low density lipoprotein-cholesterol levels with an increase of high density lipoprotein-cholesterol. Overall, EG significantly reverted back to near normal the values of the biochemical biomarkers such as transaminases (AST&ALT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), creatine phosphokinase (CPK) and gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase (GGT) activities, total-bilirubin, creatinine, urea and uric acid rates.