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Nutrire Rofiat Manuscript Comments
Nutrire Rofiat Manuscript Comments
RATS
a
Functional Foods and Nutraceuticals Unit, Department of Biochemistry, Federal University of
b
Functional Foods and Nutraceuticals Unit, Department of Pure and Applied Sciences, Precious
*Corresponding author
Ayokunle Ademosun
Email: ojueromiopeyemi@pcu.edu.ng
ABSTRACT
Background: Dietary sources of functional foods and nutraceuticals have demonstrated significant
catappa) and Orange (Citrus sinensis) peels have a long folklore history in the treatment of
hypercholesterolemia and hypertension. This study aim to investigate the effects of almond and
citrus peel formulated shortbread on lipid profile, oxidative stress and antioxidant parameters in
hyperlipidemic-hypertensive rats.
Methods: The experimental animals were distributed into eight groups and were orally
administered L-NAME (40mg/kg) and HFD. They were fed with varying amounts of almond and
citrus peel formulated shortbread [0.2% citrus peel, 50% almond and combination of almond
(50%)-citrus peel (0.2%). Thereafter, the effect of almond and citrus peel formulated shortbread on
plasma lipid profile and antioxidant indices of the experimental rats were determined.
Results: The results showed a significant decrease in atherogenic index, total cholesterol,
triglycerides, low density lipoprotein (LDL), malondialdehyde (MDA) and reactive oxygen species
in the rats fed with almond and citrus peel formulated shortbread compared to the HFD/L-NAME-
induced rats. In addition, the almond and citrus peel formulated shortbread groups showed
significant increase in the level of HDL cholesterol and activities of the superoxide dismutase and
Conclusions: The results showed that almond and citrus peel formulated shortbread improved
plasma lipid profile and antioxidant status in HFD/L-NAME- induced rats. Intriguingly, the
almond (50%)-citrus (0.2%) formulated shortbread had the best antioxidative and
antihyperlipidemic effects.
1.0 INRTODUCTION
Hyperlipidemia and hypertension the most prevalent metabolic disorders affecting millions of
people worldwide, and the principal risk factos for cardiovascular disease (CVD) [1].
vascular diseases. Approximately 110 million people are affected by hyperlipidemia with an
estimated 4.4 million deaths globally [2]. Hyperlipidemia is characterized by increased lipid
condition characterized by plaque buildup in the arteries [3] while, hypertension refers to high
blood pressure above 140/90mmHg [4], which can damage blood vessels and trigger the risk of
cardiac diseases. These two risk factors often coexist and lipid profile assays are typically used to
assess the severity of hyperlipidemia and its associated risk factors, including high levels of low-
density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol and triglycerides, and low levels of high-density
lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol [5]. Other oxidative biomarkers, including ROS, and
hyperlipidemia [6]. Oxidative stress occurs when there is an imbalance between ROS production
and the body's antioxidant defense system [7]. Hyperlipidemia has been shown to increase
oxidative stress levels in the body, leading to the development of various cardiovascular diseases
[8]. The low-density lipoprotein (LDL) is commonly referred to as bad cholesterol. Elevated
levels of LDL-cholesterol, which are observed in hyperlipidemia, can lead to the formation of
oxidized LDL-cholesterol particles. These particles are highly reactive and can induce the
production of ROS, which can damage the endothelial cells lining the blood vessels. This
damage can result in the development of atherosclerosis, narrowing the blood vessels and
restricting blood circulation to vital organs such as the heart and brain [9].
which are often accompanied with deleterious side effect, some other options that can be
considered effective involves the intake of medicinal plants and lifestyle modification. Due to the
increasing prevalence of hyperlipidemia, as well as the drug resistance and side-effects of current
the availability of medicinal plants rich in antioxidants and phytochemical components [10].
Almond (Terminaliacatappa) is a type of tree nut that are commonly eaten as a snack or used as
an ingredient in cooking and baking. They are native to the Middle East and have been cultivated
for millennia. Orange peel (Citrus sinensis) contains higher concentration of flavonoids and
phytonutrients than its inner flesh. It is usually cultivated in tropical region because of its edible,
ornamental and medicinal purpose [11]. For this reason, orange peels are credited with a number
of pharmacological properties. Almond nut and orange peel are commonly used as nutraceuticals
in folkloric medicine for the treatment of diverse cardiovascular and degenerative diseases,
although there is limited evidence on the scientific basis for its use. This study sought to evaluate
the antioxidative and lipid lowering abilities of almond-citrus peel formulated short bread in
3.1 Materials
Oranges, purpose flour, greek yoghurt, almond nuts, aspartame and skimmed milk were bought
at Akure main market, Nigeria. The commercial shortbread was procured from a minimart at
FUT, Akure.
3.1.2 Chemicals
Chemicals were procured from Sigma-Aldrich Chemical Co. The chemical reagents used for the
assay were of standard analytical grades, while the lipid profile was determined using kit
3.2 Methods
Orange peels were air dried for some days and blended to powered form, almond nut was milled,
measured and mixed together with skimmed milk, water, aspartame and other materials in
different proportions .The dough was then cut into shapes and baked in an electric oven.
Table 1:Composition of almond and citrus peel fortified shortbread
Purpose
Constituent Flour (g) Yoghurt (g) Milk (g) Peel (g)
Flour (g)
(0.2%)
SHORTBREAD
PLAIN
SHORTBREAD
CITRUS PEEL
(0.2%)
SHORTBREAD
ALMOND(50%)
SHORTBREAD
Alm
ALMOND(50%)-
CITRUS PEEL
(0.2%)
SHORTBREAD
Plate 1: Images showing commercial, plain and almond-citrus peel fortified shortbread
3.2.2Experimental Design
Mature male wistar albino rats (weight: 180 - 200 g) were gotten from Animal house,
the wistar rats was done at room temperature. They were allocated into 8 groups and
acclimatized for 2 weeks with access to diet and water. The experimental rats orally administered
L-NAME (40 mg/kg body weight) were fed with high fat diet for 21 days to induce
hyperlipidemia in rats. The HFD/L-NAME hypertensive- hyperlipidemic rats were fed with short
bread supplemented with almond and citrus peel at varying dietary inclusions throughout the
experiment.
Group 3 - HIGH FAT DIET + L-NAME + LISINOPRIL (0.14mg/kg) + STATIN (0.2 mg/kg)
Group 5 - HIGH FAT DIET + L-NAME + PLAIN ALL-PURPOSE FLOUR SHORT BREAD (APF)
Group 6 – HIGH FAT DIET + L-NAME + APF + CITRUS PEEL SHORT BREAD (0.2%)
Group 7 – HIGH FAT DIET + L-NAME + APF + ALMOND FLOUR SHORT BREAD (50%)
Group 8 - HIGH FAT DIET + L-NAME + APF + ALMOND FLOUR (50%) + CITRUS PEEL
blood was taken from the heart into ethylene-diaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA)-containing tubes
The rats’ lipid profile ( total cholesterol, high density lipoprotein (HDL), low- density lipoprotein
Malondialdehyde (MDA) content in the blood was assayed by the method of Ohkawa et al [12].
Three hundred microlitre of tissue homogenate, three hundred microlitre of 8.1% SDS (Sodium
dodecyl sulfate), Five hundred microlitre of acetic acid/HCl (pH 3.2) and 0.8% TBA were added,
and the mixture was incubated at 100 °C for 1 h. Thereafter, the thiobarbituric acid reactive
The method of Alia et al [13] to evaluate the inhibition of autoxidation of epinephrine at pH 10.2
The activity was determined in a reaction involving heart homogenate, H 2O2 plus buffer (pH 7).
The experiment procedure was halted with potassium dichromate prepared with acetic acid. The
H2O2 consumed was read at 260nm and expressed as mol/mg protein [14].
3.3.5 Determination of Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS) Concentration
The ROS level was measured utilizing the method of Hayashi et al. [15]. Fifty microlitre of
tissue homogenate and 1400 µL of CH3COONa buffer (0.1 M, pH 4.8) was transferred into a
beaker and a thousand microlitre of reagent mixture (containing 6 mg/mL N,N, diethyl-
paraphenylenediamine and 4.37 µM Ferrous sulphate dissolve in CH3COONa buffer) was added.
The protein content was analyzed by the Coomassie blue method utilizing serum albumin as
standard [16].
Data are expressed as mean ± standard error of the mean (SEM). All the data were analyzed
using GraphPad statistical package, version 8.0 while significance level, which was accepted at p
<0.05 after Tukey's post hoc test using one- way ANOVA.
Figure 1: Effect of almond-citrus peel formulated shortbread on plasmaatherogenic index
(AI) in HFD/L-NAME induced hyperlipidemic-hypertensive rats.
Results are expressed as mean ± standard error of the mean (SEM). *Values are significantly p <
0.05 different from HFD + L-NAME-induced group. #Values are significantly p < 0.05 different
from HFD + L-NAME + Statin + Lisinopril.
Results are expressed as mean ± standard error of the mean (SEM). *Values are significantlyP<
0.05 different fromHFD+L-NAME-induced group.#Values are significantlyP< 0.05 different
fromHFD+L-NAME+Lisinopril + Statin group
Figure 3: Effect of almond-citrus peel formulated shortbread on plasma total cholesterol
(TC) activity in L-NAME induced hyperlipidemic-hypertensiverats.
Results are expressed as mean ± standard error of the mean (SEM). *Values are significantlyP<
0.05 different fromHFD+L-NAME-induced group.#Values are significantlyP< 0.05 different
fromHFD+L-NAME+Lisinopril + Statin group
Figure 4: Effect of almond-citrus peel formulated shortbread on plasma low density
lipoprotein (LDL) level inL-NAME induced hyperlipidemic-hypertensiverats.
Results are expressed as mean ± standard error of the mean (SEM). *Values are significantlyP<
0.05 different fromHFD+L-NAME-induced group.#Values are significantlyP< 0.05 different
fromHFD+L-NAME+Lisinopril + Statin group
Figure 5: Effect of almond-citrus peel formulated shortbread on plasma high density
lipoprotein(HDL) level in L-NAME induced hyperlipidemic-hypertensive rats.
Results are expressed as mean ± standard error of the mean (SEM). *Values are significantlyP<
0.05 different fromHFD+L-NAME-induced group.#Values are significantlyP< 0.05 different
fromHFD+L-NAME+Lisinopril + Statin group
Figure 6: Effect of almond-citrus peel formulated shortbread on plasmamalondialdehyde
(MDA) activity in L-NAME induced hyperlipidemic-hypertensiverats.
Results are expressed as mean ± standard error of the mean (SEM). *Values are significantlyP<
0.05 different fromHFD+L-NAME-induced group.#Values are significantlyP< 0.05 different
fromHFD+L-NAME+Lisinopril + Statin group.
Figure 7: Effect of almond-citrus peel formulated shortbread on plasma reactive oxygen
species(ROS) activity in L-NAME induced hyperlipidemic-hypertensiverats.
Results are expressed as mean ± standard error of the mean (SEM). *Values are significantlyP<
0.05 different fromHFD+L-NAME-induced group.#Values are significantlyP< 0.05 different
fromHFD+L-NAME+Lisinopril + Statin group
Figure 8: Effect of almond-citrus peel formulated shortbread on plasmasuperoxide
dismutase (SOD) activity in L-NAME induced hyperlipidemic-hypertensiverats.
Results are expressed as mean ± standard error of the mean (SEM). *Values are significantlyP<
0.05 different fromHFD+L-NAME-induced group.#Values are significantlyP< 0.05 different
fromHFD+L-NAME+Lisinopril + Statin group
Figure 9: Effect of almond-citrus peel formulated shortbread on plasmacatalase (CAT)
activity in L-NAME induced hyperlipidemic-hypertensiverats.
Results are expressed as mean ± standard error of the mean (SEM). *Values are significantlyP<
0.05 different fromHFD+L-NAME-induced group.#Values are significantlyP< 0.05 different
fromHFD+L-NAME+Lisinopril + Statin group
Figure 10: Effect of almond-citrus peel formulated shortbread on plasma glutathione
Results are expressed as mean ± standard error of the mean (SEM). *Values are significantlyP<
Hyperlipidemia represents a medical term for abnormally high levels of fats (lipids) in the blood,
which include cholesterol and triglycerides. Hyperlipidemia is a known culprit in the incidence
of cardiovascular diseases [17]. Excessive dietary fat intake can negatively affect lipid
metabolism leading to hyperlipidemia [18] and increase the level of angiotensin II, a factor in
hypertension development.
Statins are standard drugs commonly used to treat hyperlipidemia and to halt the progression of
atherosclerosis-related problems like heart attacks and stroke. These medications are relatively
expensive and often accompanied with attendant side effects including rhabdomyolysis,
diarrhoea and dizziness [19]. However, the use of medicinal plants/foods to regulate lipid or
cholesterol levels has grown enormously and has gained global acceptance in the nutraceutical
sector. Citrus and almond plants, which are rich in phenolics and flavonoids have been reported
Remarkably, results from this study revealed no significant (P< 0.05) difference between the
group treated with the standard drugs (simvastatin and lisinopril) and the group treated with
[21]. It is used to measure blood lipid levels and also frequently utilized as a good biomarker for
dyslipidemia and cardiovascular disorders. In this study, a noticeable elevation was observed in
the plasma atherogenic index, triglycerides and total cholesterol level of the untreated
hyperlipidemic-hypertensive rats (Fig.1-3). However, the treatment with the almond-citrus peel
shortbread reversed the effect. The elevated level of total cholesterol and triglyceride is
connected to cardiovascular abnormalities and could be as a result of high flux of fatty acids and
abnormal elimination of low density lipoprotein (LDL) from the plasma [22]. In physiological
state, the plasma LDL consists of triglycerides and cholesterol esters with an outer layer made up
cholesterol in circulation [23]. The LDL oxidation triggers lipid peroxidation process principally
involving the phospholipid molecules during oxidative state. Individuals with higher LDL levels
epidemiological studies [24]. In order to transport cholesterol back to the liver, high density
lipoprotein (HDL) encourages the absorption of cholesterol from a variety of peripheral tissues,
including the artery wall. The HDL may provide protection by preventing the oxidation of LDL
and counteracting the atherogenic effects of oxidized LDL, as well as by reversing cholesterol
transport [25]. This study demonstrated reduced LDL and elevated HDL level in the rats treated
(Fig.4-5). However, the groups treated with almond (50%)-citrus peel (0.2%) formulated
shortbread significantly (P< 0.05) increased HDL and lowered LDL level than the individual
The oxidative damage to lipids, proteins, deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA), and tiny biomolecules is
caused by reactive oxygen species (ROS). According to recent research, hyperlipidemia under
conditions of oxidative stress is a risk factor for the development of atherosclerosis and aberrant
lipid metabolism, and oxidative stress is the primary mechanism triggering cardiovascular
disorders [26]. Hyperlipidemia may result in the elevated production of ROS, which exert their
significant elevation in the MDA and ROS level of the untreated hyperlipidemic-hypertensive
rats (Fig.6 -7). However, the treatment with shortbread formulated with the individual effect of
almond (50%) and citrus (0.2%) as well as its combination [almond (50%)-citrus (0.2%)]
reduced MDA and ROS levels in the hyperlipidemic-hypertensive rats. Intriguingly, the almond
(50%) -citrus peel (0.2%) shortbread elicited the best anti-oxidative effect. In this study, the
observed rise in plasma MDA and ROS level in the untreated HFD/L-NAME-inducedrats may
hyperlipidemic and hypertensive conditions. The treatment with almond-citrus peel shortbread
may further suggest potential protection of the rats against the progression of oxidative stress-
induced pathologies.
Citrus peels and almond nuts have been reported to be rich in natural antioxidants including
polyphenols and flavonoids [27]. Antioxidants prevent the impairment of biological tissues
caused by oxidative stress. Endogenous antioxidants may not be adequate to stop damage, thus
dietary antioxidants may be required to prevent diseases caused by free radicals. [28]. These
findings gave rise to the theory that dietary antioxidants could boost cardioprotection and
improve blood lipid profiles by reducing oxidative stress and suppressing macromolecule
oxidation. [29]. The results presented in Fig. 8 – 9 illustrate the effects of shortbread formulated
with citrus peel and almond on plasma antioxidant enzyme in HFD/L-NAME induced rats. The
results showed a marked (P< 0.05) reduction in the activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and
treatment with the standard drugs (lisinopril& simvastatin) as well as the varying dietary
inclusions of almond (50%), citrus peel (0.2%) andalmond (50%)-citrus peel (0.2%) significantly
elevated SOD and CAT in the HFD/L-NAME- induced hyperlipidemic-hypertensive rats.
Interestingly, shortbread with the combination of almond (50%) and citrus peel (0.2%) showed
the highest SOD and CAT activities in hyperlipidemic-hypertensive rats. The initial line of
cellular defense against oxidative damage is provided by the SOD and CAT, which are involved
in the elimination of superoxide anions and hydrogen peroxide [30]. Studies have shown that
SOD and CAT are comparatively stable enzymes that may become inactive in the presence of
extreme oxidative stress. Thus, an imbalance between the antioxidant and oxidant systems may
result from insufficient detoxification of these ROS by antioxidant enzymes. The decreased SOD
and CAT activity may potentially be due to ROS-induced enzyme inactivation, which damage
CONCLUSION
This study revealed that almond-citrus peel enriched short bread improved plasma lipid profile and
(0.2%) formulated shortbread had the best antioxidative and antihyperlipidemic effect. The dietary
supplementation with almond nuts and citrus peels could be a promising strategy in the prevention
Acknowledgements
The authors would like to appreciate Functional Foods and Nutraceutical Unit, Department of
AA conceived the research work ; AO and OO supervised the project and gave the required tips
and scientific instructions. The article was prepared by OO. All authors read and approved the
final manuscript.
Not applicable.
Not applicable.
Competing interests
Funding
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