Fenugreek (Trigonella Foenum-Graecum) Seed Flour and Diosgenin Preserve Endothelium-Dependent Arterial Relaxation in a Rat Model of Early-Stage Metabolic Syndrome

Abstract

Fenugreek is a common herb possessing several bioactive components including diosgenin. Here, dietary fenugreek seed flour and diosgenin were evaluated on a model of endothelium-dependent vasorelaxation by abdominal aortas isolated from rats receiving high-fat, high-sugar diet (HFHSD). 60 male Wistar rats were randomized into six groups: (i) negative control getting conventional rat feed regimen; (ii) positive control receiving HFHSD; (iii) a test group fed 2 g/kg bw/day fenugreek seed flour (containing 10 mg/kg bw/day diosgenin) + HFHSD; (iv) three test groups fed 1, 10 and 50 mg/kg bw/day diosgenin + HFHSD. Alimentary treatments were carried out for six weeks. The abdominal aortas were isolated, and 2 mm wide rings were sectioned off and mounted at a resting tension of 10 mN in organ baths containing Krebs solution (36 °C) exposed to 95% O2 and 5% CO2. After 60-min incubation, a norepinephrine concentration-response (E/c) curve was generated to determine their half-maximal effective concentration (EC50) value. After 60-min wash-out, a pre-contraction with norepinephrine EC50 was made, followed by an acetylcholine E/c curve. Plasma glutathione levels, glutathione-handling enzyme activities and blood antioxidant capacities were also determined. HFHSD significantly decreased the dilatory response to acetylcholine and increased plasma glutathione levels and these effects were significantly reversed by fenugreek seed flour, 10 and 50 mg/kg bw/day diosgenin. Both fenugreek and diosgenin treatments prevent HFHSD-induced endothelial dysfunction and redox changes. As fenugreek treatment was more effective at lower acetylcholine concentrations than diosgenin treatments, components of fenugreek other than diosgenin may contribute to the beneficial effects of dietary fenugreek seed flour.

Upregulation of Myocardial and Vascular Phosphodiesterase 9A in A Model of Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Disease

“…The rings were mounted horizontally at 10 mN resting tension, using a wire instrument (Experimetria Ltd., Hungary), in a 4-chamber isolated organ bath system with 10 mL vertical chambers (TSZ-04; Experimetria Ltd., Hungary) containing Krebs solution, oxygenated with 95% O 2 and 5% CO 2 (36 °C; pH = 7.4). The isometric contractile force of the circulatory muscle layer was measured by a transducer (SD-01; Experimetria Ltd., Hungary) connected with a WS-DA-02 workstation (MDE Research) with SPEL Advances Isosys software (SOFT-02; MDE GmbH, Heidelberg, Germany) [ 52 ].…”

“…After, Ach E/c curve was constructed (from 0.1 nmol/L to 1 mmol/L). ATP E/c curve (0.1–100 µmol/L) was constructed in the same manner [ 52 ].…”

“…First, effect values belonging to the same concentration values were compared between the two experimental groups (NE and ATP E/c curve). Secondly, to quantify the NO-dependent relaxation separated from the NO-independent contraction (developed at higher Ach concentrations), Ach E/c data cleansing was performed as described elsewhere [ 52 ]. Briefly, for each individual Ach E/c curve (resulted from averaging the data of the four aortic rings obtained from the same animal), the maximal relaxation effect value was chosen and was arbitrarily assigned to all Ach concentrations that were higher than that belonging to the maximal relaxation effect value (up to 10 µmol/L).…”

CD5L‑induced activation of autophagy is associated with hepatoprotection in ischemic reperfusion injury via the CD36/ATG7 axis

“…no. ab138881; Abcam) and performed as previously described (25). The absorbance of the samples was assessed using a spectrophotometer at 340 nm.…”

E4An Ultrastructural Study by Transmission Electron Microscope of Exocrine Pancreatic Cells in Diabetic Rats Treated with Herbal Combination

“…The seeds were commonly used as a spice and have anti-diabetic, anticarcinogenic, hypocholesterolemic, and antioxidant activities (11). Fenugreek possessing several bioactive components including 4-hydroxyisoleucine, flavonoids, coumarins trigonelline, saponins, (12), and diosgenin (13). Second most commonly used herb is black cumin seeds (Nigella sativa) (family: Ranunculaceae) utilized in traditional systems for many diseases.…”