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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.

Preventive nutrition and food science
March 31, 2022
Abdelkader Chenni et al. (6 authors)
Journal ArticleAnimal Study
Study Details

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.

Extracted Claims (38)
InterventionDirectionEndpointPopulationDosageImpactClaim #
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
Abstract

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.

Study Links
Quality Scores
Safety85
Efficacy90/10
Quality80/10
Citation Metrics
Total Citations1
Citations/Year0.3
Relative Citation Ratio0.19
NIH Percentile9.6%
Research Impact Scores
APT Score0.05
Weight Score1.71
Normalized Score0.86
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