Prosopis alba seed flour improves vascular function in a rabbit model of high fat diet-induced metabolic syndrome

Prosopis alba flour is a natural source of nutrient and phytochemicals with potential effects on cardiovascular risk factors. The aim of this work was to examine the effects of dietary supplementation with Prosopis alba seed flour (Pr-Feed) on a high fat diet (FD)-induced rabbit model of metabolic syndrome.

Rabbits were separated in four groups: fed regular diet (CD); CD supplemented with Pr-Feed; fed on 18 % FD; FD supplemented with Pr-Feed. All diets were administrated for 6 weeks. After the feeding period body weights, mean blood pressure, heart rate and visceral abdominal fat (VAF) were determined; glucose tolerance test (GTT) was performed; total cholesterol (TC), HDL-cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol, triglycerides (TG), fasting glucose (FG), aspartate amino transferase, alanine amino transferase, bilirubin and creatinine were measured in serum. Abdominal aorta was excised and vascular function was assessed by acetylcholine relaxation and contractile response to KCl, norepinephrine and angiotensin II.

Phytochemical analyses showed that the main compounds of Pr-Feed were apigenin C-glycosides. FD increased VAF, FG, TG, reduced HDL-cholesterol and induced abnormal GTT. Pr-Feed addition to FD did not modify these alterations. Aortic rings from rabbits fed on FD exhibited an impaired relaxation-response to acetylcholine and increased agonist vasoconstrictor responses. Pr Feed-supplemented FD improved the response to acetylcholine, and prevented the increase of the contractile response to KCl, norepinephrine and angiotensin II.

Results suggest that dietary supplementation with Pr-Feed, rich in apigenin C-glycosides, has vascular protector properties and could be used to prevent vascular alterations characterizing the metabolic syndrome.