Ficus asperifolia Miq-enriched biscuit diet protects against L-NAME induced hyperlipidemia and hypertension in rats

Abstract

Dietary sources of functional foods and nutraceutical have shown strong potentials in the management of hypertension and its complications. Sandpaper leaves, Ficus asperifolia Miq (FA), particularly found in Africa has a rich folkloric history in the management of diabetes and hypertension. This study produced biscuits supplemented with blends of FA at 2.5% and 5% fed to Nw (G)-nitro-l-arginine-methyl-ester (L-NAME, 40 mg/kg/day) induced-hypertensive rats for 14 days followed by the assessment of blood pressure, lipid profile, and atherogenic index in hypertensive rats. The phenolic constituents of FA blends were analyzed using high-performance liquid chromatography diode-anode (HPLC-DAD). Thereafter, the mean arterial blood pressure (MABP) and systolic blood pressure (SBP) was measured using the tail-cuff method after which the heart and lungs of rats were collected, weighed, and the antioxidant status and lipid cholesterol profile were assessed. We realized that recorded phenolic constituents in extracts of FA was at a high level and FA enriched biscuit-diet caused a significant decrease in SBP and MABP in L-NAME-induced hypertensive rats, body weight, atherogenic index and cholesterol profile in treated rats. However, FA enriched biscuit resulted in increased activities of catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and glutathione-S-transferase (GST) antioxidant enzymes in the heart and lungs of hypertensive rats. This study revealed that FA enriched biscuit-diet does not only have antihypertensive and antioxidant potential in L-NAME-induced hypertensive rats but also plays a protective role in the management of hyperlipidemia.