Blue Maize Extract Improves Blood Pressure, Lipid Profiles, and Adipose Tissue in High-Sucrose Diet-Induced Metabolic Syndrome in Rats

Abstract

The effect of blue maize extract in factors related to metabolic syndrome (MS) in Wistar rats was investigated. Total polyphenols, monomeric anthocyanins, and antioxidant activity were analyzed in blue maize. MS was induced in Wistar rats fed with high-sucrose (HS) diet for 12 weeks. During a period of 4 weeks, blue maize extract was administrated to HS groups fed with high-sucrose and high-cholesterol-high-sucrose (HS+C) diets. In the blue maize extract administered by orogastric cannulation, the levels of total polyphenols and anthocyanins were 9.97 and 2.92 mg/kg of weight, respectively. HS diet administered during a period of 12 weeks increased significantly systolic blood pressure, serum triglycerides, and decreased high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), alterations related to the MS. Abdominal adipose tissue was only increased in the HS + C group. Blue maize extract administration enhanced HDL-C and decreased systolic blood pressure, serum triglycerides, total cholesterol, and epididymal adipose tissue weight. The blue maize may represent a promising nutraceutical option for the treatment of MS.

Effect of high-fructose diet-induced metabolic syndrome on the pituitary-gonadal axis from adolescence through adulthood in male albino rats and the possible protective role of ginger extract. A biochemical, histological and immunohistochemical study

“…Our findings, thus, proved that fructose administration at this concentration and period produces an experimental model similar to MetS. This was in accordance with Johnson et al [35] ; Aydin et al [15] ; Mamikutty et al [50] ; Guzmán-Gerónimo et al [30] who demonstrated a relation between high fructose intake and MetS both in human and animal studies. Aydin et al [15] ; Mamikutty et al [50] confirmed that rats fed with a HFrD (10%-60%) can be used as an adequate animal model for human MetS.…”

Anthocyanins from Purple Corn Ameliorated Tumor Necrosis Factor‐α‐Induced Inflammation and Insulin Resistance in 3T3‐L1 Adipocytes via Activation of Insulin Signaling and Enhanced GLUT4 Translocation

“…Anthocyanin rich foods clearly illustrate the potential health benefits they contain through their impact in obesity and insulin‐resistance diseases. Recent studies have shown that a blue maize extract improved blood pressure, lipid profiles and adipose tissue in high‐sucrose diet‐induced metabolic syndrome in rats . Furthermore, different anthocyanin extracts from different dietary sources such as red orange, cherry juice, strawberry, black currant have been used in clinical trials with diabetic or overweight patients and a reduction in plasma LDL‐cholesterol, triglycerides, and body weight have been observed …”

A New Italian Purple Corn Variety (Moradyn) Byproduct Extract: Antiglycative and Hypoglycemic In Vitro Activities and Preliminary Bioaccessibility Studies

“…Thanks to their high polyphenol content, purple corn byproducts have been associated with several health properties such as antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antiglycative activity [2,10,[20][21][22][23]. Moreover, in vitro and in vivo studies demonstrate their capacity in the prevention of cardiovascular and type 2 diabetes risk factors by exerting a strong anti-hypertensive effect, lowering cholesterol level, ameliorating insulin resistance, and improving lipid profile in high-fat diet treated rats [24][25][26][27][28].However, it is well known that all these health benefits can occur only if the putatively active compounds are bioavailable. Bioavailability is markedly affected by bioaccessibility, i.e., the release of compounds after their intake with food, and by the chemical transformations occurring during gastrointestinal metabolism (digestibility factor) [29,30]; therefore, the evaluation of these two parameters is mandatory in order to adequately investigate the effectiveness of bioactive molecules in vitro [31,32].Recently, FlaNat Research Italia Srl (Rho, MI, Italy) developed a new Italian purple corn variety, named Moradyn, which is able to sprout and grow in northern Italy, maintaining a highly pigmented cob.…”

“…Thanks to their high polyphenol content, purple corn byproducts have been associated with several health properties such as antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antiglycative activity [2,10,[20][21][22][23]. Moreover, in vitro and in vivo studies demonstrate their capacity in the prevention of cardiovascular and type 2 diabetes risk factors by exerting a strong anti-hypertensive effect, lowering cholesterol level, ameliorating insulin resistance, and improving lipid profile in high-fat diet treated rats [24][25][26][27][28].…”