Effects of Pumpkin (Cucurbita pepo L.) Seed Protein on Blood Pressure, Plasma Lipids, Leptin, Adiponectin, and Oxidative Stress in Rats with Fructose-Induced Metabolic Syndrome.
Study Goal
The researchers aimed to determine whether pumpkin seed protein could counteract metabolic and oxidative stress effects induced by a high-fructose diet in rats.
Results Summary
Pumpkin seed protein significantly improved metabolic parameters (glucose, insulin, blood pressure, lipid profiles, liver enzymes) and oxidative stress markers in fructose-fed rats, while increasing beneficial adiponectin levels and reducing leptin.
Population
Male Wistar albino rats with fructose-induced metabolic syndrome.
Effective Dosage
20% casein diet supplemented with pumpkin protein (exact dosage not specified).
Duration
8 weeks.
Interactions
None mentioned.
| Intervention | Direction | Endpoint | Population | Dosage | Impact | Claim # |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
continuous fructose feeding | increase | plasma insulin/glucose ratio | rats | - | induced an increase | #1 |
continuous fructose feeding | increase | BP | rats | - | induced an increase | #2 |
continuous fructose feeding | increase | insulin | rats | - | induced an increase | #3 |
continuous fructose feeding | increase | glucose | rats | - | induced an increase | #4 |
continuous fructose feeding | increase | aspartate aminotransferase | rats | - | induced an increase | #5 |
continuous fructose feeding | increase | alanine aminotransferase (ALT) | rats | - | induced an increase | #6 |
continuous fructose feeding | increase | alkaline phosphatase (ALP) | rats | - | induced an increase | #7 |
continuous fructose feeding | increase | creatinine | rats | - | induced an increase | #8 |
continuous fructose feeding | increase | urea | rats | - | induced an increase | #9 |
continuous fructose feeding | increase | uric acid levels | rats | - | induced an increase | #10 |
continuous fructose feeding | decrease | liver glycogen stores | rats | - | induced a decrease | #11 |
continuous fructose feeding | decrease | muscle glycogen stores | rats | - | induced a decrease | #12 |
fructose-enriched diet | increase | total cholesterol (TC) | rats | - | elevated levels | #13 |
fructose-enriched diet | increase | triglycerides (TG) | rats | - | elevated levels | #14 |
fructose-enriched diet | increase | leptin | rats | - | elevated levels | #15 |
fructose-enriched diet | decrease | adiponectin levels | rats | - | lowered | #16 |
fructose-enriched diet | decrease | plasma levels of ascorbic acid | rats | - | exhibited lower | #17 |
fructose-enriched diet | decrease | glutathione | rats | - | exhibited lower | #18 |
fructose-enriched diet | increase | thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances | rats | - | exhibited higher | #19 |
fructose-enriched diet | increase | hydroperoxide | rats | - | exhibited higher | #20 |
fructose-enriched diet | increase | carbonyl | rats | - | exhibited higher | #21 |
fructose-enriched diet | increase | nitric oxide | rats | - | exhibited higher | #22 |
pumpkin seed protein treatment | decrease | glucose | rats | - | significantly counteracted alterations induced by fructose improving | #23 |
pumpkin seed protein treatment | decrease | insulin | rats | - | significantly counteracted alterations induced by fructose improving | #24 |
pumpkin seed protein treatment | decrease | BP | rats | - | significantly counteracted alterations induced by fructose improving | #25 |
pumpkin seed protein treatment | decrease | TG | rats | - | significantly counteracted alterations induced by fructose improving | #26 |
pumpkin seed protein treatment | decrease | TC | rats | - | significantly counteracted alterations induced by fructose improving | #27 |
pumpkin seed protein treatment | decrease | ALT | rats | - | significantly counteracted alterations induced by fructose improving | #28 |
pumpkin seed protein treatment | decrease | ALP | rats | - | significantly counteracted alterations induced by fructose improving | #29 |
pumpkin seed protein treatment | increase | liver glycogen stores | rats | - | increasing | #30 |
pumpkin seed protein treatment | increase | muscle glycogen stores | rats | - | increasing | #31 |
pumpkin seed protein treatment | increase | adiponectin level | rats | - | increasing | #32 |
pumpkin seed protein treatment | increase | adiponectin/leptin ratio | rats | - | increasing | #33 |
pumpkin seed protein treatment | decrease | plasma leptin levels | rats | - | reducing | #34 |
pumpkin protein with a high-fructose diet | decrease | oxidative stress in the liver | rats | - | improved | #35 |
pumpkin protein with a high-fructose diet | decrease | oxidative stress in the kidneys | rats | - | improved | #36 |
proteins from Cucurbita pepo L. seeds | increase | metabolic parameters | - | - | effectively improve | #37 |
proteins from Cucurbita pepo L. seeds | decrease | oxidative stress induced by a high-fructose diet | - | - | protect against | #38 |
This study evaluates the potential effects of pumpkin seeds protein on blood pressure (BP), plasma adiponectin, leptin levels, and oxidative stress in rats with fructose-induced metabolic syndrome. Twenty four male Wistar albino rats were divided into four groups and fed a 20% casein diet, 20% casein diet supplemented with pumpkin protein, 20% casein diet with 64% D-fructose, or 20% casein diet with pumpkin protein and 64% D-fructose for 8 weeks. Contin-uous fructose feeding induced an increase in plasma insulin/glucose ratio, BP, insulin and glucose, aspartate aminotrans-ferase, alanine aminotransferase (ALT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), creatinine, urea, and uric acid levels, and a decrease in the liver and muscle glycogen stores. In addition, elevated levels of total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TG), and leptin and lowered adiponectin levels were observed in rats fed a fructose-enriched diet. These groups also exhibited lower plasma levels of ascorbic acid and glutathione, higher thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances, hydroperoxide, carbonyl, and nitric oxide in both the liver and kidneys than rats fed the control diet. Interestingly, pumpkin seed protein treatment significantly counteracted alterations induced by fructose improving glucose, insulin, BP, TG, TC, ALT, and ALP levels, increasing liver and muscle glycogen stores, adiponectin level, and adiponectin/leptin ratio, and reducing plasma leptin lev-els. In addition, rats fed pumpkin protein with a high-fructose diet improved oxidative stress in the liver and kidneys. In conclusion, proteins from Cucurbita pepo L. seeds effectively improve metabolic parameters and protect against oxidative stress induced by a high-fructose diet.