Alligator pepper/Grain of Paradise ( Aframomum melegueta ) modulates Angiotensin-I converting enzyme activity, lipid profile and oxidative imbalances in a rat model of hypercholesterolemia

Hypercholesterolemia, angiotensin converting enzyme and ecto-enzymes of purinergic system: Ameliorative properties of caffeic and chlorogenic acid in hypercholesterolemic rats

“…However, antioxidant enzymes are helpful in detoxification of free radicals. As shown in Figure a,b, decrease in the SOD activity in the hypercholesterolemic rats (untreated group) as well as significant ( p < 0.05) increase in the MDA equivalent compounds in hypercholesterolemic rats 7 (A and B) agreed with previous report on effect of HCD on redox status in hypercholesterolemic rats (Adefegha, Oboh, Adefegha, & Henle, ). Effect of caffeic acid and chlorogenic acid were assessed on biomarkers of oxidative stress in hypercholesterolemic rat (treated group), it was observed that antioxidant status in hypercholesterolemic rat treated with caffeic acid or chlorogenic acid was significantly enhanced.…”

“…As earlier discussed, the involvement of HCD in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis, cardiovascular diseases, and up‐regulation of ACE activity in hypercholesterolemic rats have been reported by Oboh, Bello, and Ademosun () and Adefegha, Oboh, Adefegha, and Henle (). However, research findings have shown that the hypercholesterolemic effect of HCD could be subsequently ameliorated in experimental animals by phytochemical constituents presence in sand paper leaf extract (Oboh et al, ), grapefruit, shaddock (Oboh, Fatai, & Ademosun, ), and grain of paradise (Adefegha, Oboh, Adefegha, Boligon, & Athayde, ).…”

“…Atherogenic index is a predictive value for the development of atherosclerosis, which underscore the progression of cardiovascular disease. The literature have shown that high‐cholesterol diet (HCD) lead to dyslipidemic syndrome, hyperlipidemia, hypercholesterolemia denoted with an increase in triglyceride (TG) with concurrent reduction in the HDL‐cholesterol (Adefegha, Oboh, Adefegha, & Henle, ; Halcox & Misra, ; Oboh, Bello, & Ademosun, ). The hypercholesterolemic effect of HCD as observed in this study agreed with previous studies of by Shakir, Salim, Hatem, Mohamed, and Mohamed (); Oboh, Bello & Ademosun, .…”

“…However, underling the mechanism through which caffeic acid and chlorogenic acid achieved these effects, that is lowering plasma TG, TC, LDL, and antiatherogenic effect, remain unclear. Furthermore, Adefegha, Oboh, Adefegha, and Henle () report that polyphenols may promote antiatherogenic effect by modulating cholesterol metabolism, removal of cholesterol from circulation system, the absorption of dietary cholesterol, and its excretion via bile and feces. These might have been among the possible mechanisms through which caffeic acid and chlorogenic acid exhibit antiatherogenic effect in the hypercholesterolemic rats.…”

Effects of combined crude alkaloid-rich extracts from alligator pepper (Aframomum melegueta) and bastered melegueta (Aframomum danielli) on the enzymes crucial to erectile dysfunction-in vitro

“…(Table ), (Dewick, ; Ding et al, ; Nakka, Kumar, & Devendra, ; Oswald, Fishbein, Corbett, & Walker, ) and also shown in the chromatogram (Figure ). Previous study by Adefegha, Oboh, Adefegha, et al () and that of Adegoke and Skura () the studied plant samples have been found to contain amino acids which could be biosynthetic precursors to most of the identified alkaloids present in the extracts. For instance, cinchonine is a tryptophan biosynthetic alkaloid.…”