Phenolic analysis and erectogenic function of African Walnut ( Tetracarpidium conophorum ) seeds: The impact of the seed shell on biological activity

Abstract

This study investigated the erectogenic potential of African walnut seed (AWS). The extract from AWS cooked with/without shell interacted with phosphodiesterase‐5 (PDE‐5), arginase, angiotensin‐I converting enzymes (ACE), and acetylcholinesterase (AChE); enzymes associated with erectile dysfunction (ED) and Fe2+‐induced malonaldehyde (MDA) production in the isolated penile tissue. The results showed that the extracts inhibited the enzymes and MDA production, but Walnut cooked with shell had the highest effect. This agreed with increased phenolic acids and flavonoids, found in the AWS cooked with the shell, compared with that cooked without shell. The inhibition of enzymes and antioxidative potentials could be among the possible mechanisms of actions of AWS in the management/treatment of ED. However, cooking walnut seed with the shell seem to be a contributing factor, as this could prevent possible leaching out of the phytochemicals that could be responsible for these biological effects. Practical applications Walnut seed possesses a high content of phenolic compounds and inhibit enzymes relevant to the management of erectile dysfunction. Traditionally, Walnut seed is being cooked with/without the shell and consumed for the purpose of alternative medicine in folklore. Our investigation revealed the possible mechanism underlying the therapeutic effect Walnut seed in the management of ED, but the impact of the shell during cooking contributes to this effect. This result will inform the consumers and food scientist on the importance of cooking Walnut seed with the shell in order to maximize its nutraceutical values.

Moringa oleifera leaf and seed inclusive diets influenced the restoration of biochemicals associated with erectile dysfunction in the penile tissue of STZ‐induced diabetic male rats treated with/without Acarbose drug

“…Although treatment with ACA alone cause a reduction of these enzymes, but mush reduced activities were observed in those that were co‐treated with the inclusive diets plus ACA, most especially those of ACA + 4% ML/MS inclusive diets. The noticed reversed in the activities of AChE, ACE, MAO, and ADA in the penile tissue of treated diabetic (Figure 4) can be ascribed to the effectiveness of the phenolic acids and flavonoids (Adefegha, Oyeleye, Dada, et al, 2018; Ademiluyi, Ogunsuyi, Adebayo, & Oboh, 2018; Ademiluyi et al., 2019; Ademosun & Oboh, 2017; Li, Nakagome, Hirono, Itoh, & Fujiwara, 2015).…”

“…In addition, the report of Adefegha, Oyeleye, Dada, Olasehinde, and Oboh (2018), showed that flavonoids such as quercetin and its glycosylated form (rutin) have the potential to reduced PDE-5 and arginase activities. Several lines of research have shown that inhibition of PDE-5 alone is not enough in the management of ED, not even to talk about the side effects exhibited by PDE-5 synthetic inhibitors (Adebayo, Oboh, & Ademosun, 2019;Ademiluyi et al, 2019). However, other enzymes such as AChE, ACE, MAO, and ADA, among others, which, if unchecked, could also wreak havoc toward sustaining ED, via the reduction of concentration of some vital biomolecules including NO, angiotensin-I, cGMP, and adenosine in the penile tissue (Adefegha, Oyeleye, Dada, et al, 2018;Jung, Jo, Kwon, & Jeong, 2014;Naylor, 1998;Phatarpekar, Wen, & Xia, 2010), most especially in diabetic subjects (Adebayo et al, 2019;Han et al, 2019;Yang et al, 2009).…”

“…NO is a principal signaling mediator gas involve in the stimulation of corpus cavernosum relaxation and increase penile blood flow in the process of penile rigidity (Adefegha, Oyeleye, & Oboh, 2018; Eleazu, Obianuju, Eleazu, & Kalu, 2017). However, increase arginase activity has been investigated to short NO concentration by utilizing arginine substrate that could be useful for endothelial NO synthase (eNOS) for the production of NO (Ademiluyi, Oyeleye, Ogunsuyi, & Oboh, 2019). It is also worth mention that phosphodiesterase‐5 (PDE‐5) repress NO/cGMP signal transduction pathway (a crucial pathway to erectile system) by degrading cGMP to the inactive form 5′GMP (Corbin, 2004; Leite et al., 2007; Omojokun, Famurewa, Jaiyeoba, Oboh, & Agbebi, 2019).…”

Extracts from Almond ( Terminalia catappa ) leaf and stem bark mitigate the activities of crucial enzymes and oxidative stress associated with hypertension in cyclosporine A‐stressed rats

“…The dried and pulverized plant sample was subjected to aqueous (w/v) extraction (Ademiluyi et al., 2019). Filtered using Whatman No.1 filter paper, thereafter, the filtrates were freeze‐dried.…”

“…The use of Cyclosporine A (CsA) to suppress the immune system and autoimmune, so as to forbid incidence of organ rejection during organ transplant is highly practice (Agunloye et al., 2019; Huai et al, 2002). However, several side effects, including unchecked upregulation of rennin angiotensin system (RAS), angiotensin‐I enzyme (ACE) activity, and angiotensin‐1 receptor, reduce endothelia nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) activity and oxidative stress via increase production of radical species; the factors that are largely responsible for hypertension (Agunloye et al., 2019; Jabir et al., 2017; Oboh et al., 2016), erectile dysfunction (Adefegha, Oyeleye, Dada, Olasehinde, & Oboh, 2018; Ademiluyi, Oyeleye, Ogunsuyi, & Oboh, 2019), cognitive impairment (Tota et al., 2012), nephrotoxicity (Bekpinar et al., 2019), among others, have been reported. Interestingly, consumption of phenolic‐rich foods/plants have been reported to have good advantages toward the alleviation of these side effects and in the management of hypertension and cardiotoxicity (Agunloye et al., 2019; Bekpinar et al., 2019; Bingul, Olgac, Bekpinar, & Uysal, 2019; Josiah, Oyeleye, Crown, & Olaleye, 2020).…”