<i>Theobroma cacao</i> seed extracts attenuate dyslipidemia and oxidative stress in L-NAME induced hypertension in Wistar rats

Abstract

This research evaluated the antioxidant activities (<i>in vitro</i> and <i>in vivo)</i> and serum lipid profile of the chloroform (CETC) and ethanol (EETC) extracts of <i>Theobroma cacao</i> seeds in nitro-L-arginine methyl esters (L-NAME)-induced hypertension in Wister rats. Parameters investigated include DPPH, nitric oxide scavenging ability, CAT, GPX, SOD and serum MDA concentration. Serum lipid profiles such as total cholesterol, HDL, LDL, VLDL and TG were also assayed. The rats were treated with 100mg/kg, 200mg/kg and 300mg/kg b. w of ethanol and chloroform extracts of <i>T</i>. <i>cacao</i> and a standard drug concurrently with L-NAME. The results showed a dose-dependent increase in the antioxidant activities of EETC and CETC across all the invitro parameters with the ethanol extracts consistently outperforming the chloroform extracts. Total cholesterol, low-density lipoproteins, very low-density lipoprotein, TGs, and serum MDA showed significant (p<0.05) decreases in comparison with the control. On the other hand, there were significant (p<0.05) increases in high-density lipoproteins, GPx, SOD, CAT, and serum Nitric Oxide in the treated rats relative to the untreated rats. The observed antihypertensive properties of the extracts support that <i>T. cacao</i> may be useful in the management of cardiovascular health. The active constituents of these extracts could protect against hypertension.