Beneficial effects of argan oil on blood pressure, insulin resistance, and oxidative stress in rat

Floristic biodiversity, biogeographical significance, and importance of Morocco's Arganeraie Biosphere Reserve

The coastal and subcoastal areas of west-central Morocco (Safi to Draa River, the Souss Valley, and the southern part of the western High Atlas and northern and southern slopes of the western Anti-Atlas) are characterized by typical Infra-Mediterranean vegetation ranking them amongst the important of the remarkable borderlands of North Africa. The flora is determined by complex historical and environmental factors occurring since the Tertiary period. The originality of this sector is due to the presence of the argan tree (Argania spinosa (L.) Skeels), Moroccan gum (Acacia gummifera Willd), olive trees (Olea europaea L. subsp. maroccana (Greuter & Burdet) P. Vargas & al.), a thermophilic flora adapted to an arid climate with several endemic species. This flora constitutes the final barrier against the desert and is of environmental and socioeconomical interest. Leaves and fruits provide forage material, while wood is used for fuel. Argan fruits are collected for their oily constitutes and for nutritional, cosmetic, and medicinal properties. Additionally, many species of Argan ecosystems are used in medicine and cosmetics. Recognizing its ecological value and local economic importance, the Argan region was declared a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve in 1998. Despite their biogeographical, historical, and socioeconomic value, vegetation structures in west-central Morocco are vulnerable and threatened by human activities. They exhibit high levels of degradation due to increasing clearance, overgrazing, and overexploitation. The area requires high conservation priority and sustainable management strategies for key species and genetic diversity.

Beneficial Effects of High Intensity Interval Training and/or Linseed Oil Supplementation to Limit Obesity-Induced Oxidative Stress in High Fat Diet-Fed Rats

High-intensity interval training (HIIT) and linseed oil (LO) supplementation are effective strategies to reduce obesity-induced oxidative stress. Our aim was to determine whether the HIIT + LO combination prevents obesity-induced oxidative stress in high fat diet (HFD)-fed rats. HFD-fed 8-week-old, male, Wistar rats were subdivided in four groups: HFD, LO (2% of sunflower oil replaced with 2% of LO in the HFD), HIIT (4 days/week for 12 weeks), and HIIT + LO. Wistar rats fed a low-fat diet (LFD) were used as controls. Epididymal and subcutaneous adipose tissue, gastrocnemius muscle, liver, and plasma samples were collected to measure oxidative stress markers (AOPP, oxLDL), antioxidant (SOD, CAT, and GPx activities) and pro-oxidant (NOx and XO) enzyme activities. Compared with the LFD, the HFD altered the pro/antioxidant status in different tissues (increase of AOPP, oxLDL, SOD and catalase activities in plasma, and SOD activity increase in liver and decrease in adipose tissues) but not in gastrocnemius. LO upregulated CAT activity and decreased NOx in liver. HIIT alleviated HFD negative effects in liver by reducing SOD and NOx activities. Moreover, the HIIT + LO combination potentiated SOD activity upregulation in subcutaneous tissue. HIIT and LO supplementation have independent beneficial effects on the pro/antioxidant balance. Their association promotes SOD activity in subcutaneous adipose tissue.

Effect of antioxidant-rich propolis and bee pollen extracts against D-glucose induced type 2 diabetes in rats

The present study was designed to investigate the preventive effect of propolis, bee pollen and their combination on Type 2 diabetes induced by D-glucose in rats. The study was carried out by feeding daily two concentrations (100 and 200 mg/Kg BW) of propolis or bee pollen (or their combination to normal (non-diabetic) and diabetic rats for a period of 16 weeks. In vivo biochemical changes associated to diabetes are induced by drinking a solution containing 10% of D-glucose (diabetic rats). The in vitro antioxidant activity was also evaluated and the chemical composition of propolis and bee pollen extracts was determined by UHPLC-DAD. Phytochemical composition of propolis and bee pollen revealed the presence of several natural antioxidants, such as hydroxycinnamic acids, hydroxybenzoic acids, flavonoids, flavan-3-ols and stilbens. The major antioxidant compound present in propolis was Naringin (290.19 ± 0.2 mg/Kg) and in bee pollen was apigenin (162.85 ± 17.7 mg/Kg). These results have been related with a high antioxidant activity, more intense in propolis extract. In rats, the administration of D-glucose had induced hyperglycemia (13.2 ± 0.82 mmol/L), increased plasmatic insulin levels (25.10 ± 2.12 U/L) and HOMA-IR index (14.72 ± 0.85) accompanied with dyslipidemia, elevation of hepatic enzyme levels, and a change in both serum renal biomarkers and plasmatic calcium. The co-administration of propolis and bee pollen extracts alone or in combination restored these biochemical parameters and attenuated the deleterious effects of D-glucose on liver and kidney functions. Furthermore, these effects were better attenuated in the combined therapy-prevented diabetic rats. Hence, it is possible to conclude that propolis and bee pollen can be used as a preventive natural product against diabetes induced dyslipidemia and hepato-renal damage.

Argan oil supplementation attenuates voluntary ethanol consumption and withdrawal syndrome promoted by adolescent intermittent ethanol in rat

The present study investigates the potential neuroprotective effect of argan oil (AO), a natural vegetable oil, commonly used in folk Moroccan medicines, on adolescent intermittent ethanol intoxication (IEI), induced voluntary ethanol consumption, and withdrawal syndrome in rats. Animals were treated with ethanol (intraperitoneally [i.p.], 3 g/kg body weight [bw]) in intermittent doses (2 days on; 2 days off, from postnatal day 30-43), with/without oral AO pre-treatment (10 mL/kg/day bw, from postnatal day 21-121). A 2-bottle free access test was performed over 10 weeks to assess 10% ethanol consumption. Behavioral signs of withdrawal were observed after 2, 6, 24, 48, and 72 h after ethanol removal. Anxiety-like behaviors in the elevated plus maze and the light/dark box tests were also evaluated at 72 h of withdrawal. We found that AO pre-treatment significantly decreased the voluntary ethanol consumption induced by adolescent IEI. In addition, by establishing low ethanol consumption, AO pre-treatment counteracts negative effects of ethanol withdrawal and anxiety-like behaviors in ethanol-treated rats after 72 h of abstinence. Following behavioral assays, oxidative stress markers were evaluated and histologic analysis of neurodegeneration was also performed. The results showed that the low ethanol drinking in the AO-supplemented rats was associated with inhibition of oxidative stress and neurodegeneration in the rats' brains. These findings provide evidence for the promising neuroprotective effect of AO supplementation in voluntary ethanol consumption and withdrawal syndrome, at least in part through counteracting oxidative stress markers and neurodegeneration.

Comparison of the nutritional value of mysore thorn borer (Anoplophora chinensis) and mealworm larva (Tenebrio molitor): Amino acid, fatty acid, and element profiles

There is increasing interest in using insects as an alternative nutrient source and Mysore thorn borer (MTB) (Anoplophora chinensis) might have nutritional and functional relevance for humans. The nutritional composition of MTB (amino acids, fatty acids, and elements profiles) was examined and compared with mealworm larva (MWL) (Tenebrio molitor). MTB was found to contain 19 amino acids, including all essential amino acids. A total of 16 fatty acids were detected including polyunsaturated fatty acids (e.g. α-linolenic acid and linoleic acid). Moreover, MTB had a low n - 6/n - 3 ratio and contained some essential elements, such as iron, zinc, calcium, and potassium. These results demonstrated that MTB might be a potential source of nutritional compounds for human consumption.

Beneficial Effects of Apple Vinegar on Hyperglycemia and Hyperlipidemia in Hypercaloric-Fed Rats

The main objective of this study is to determine the effects of apple vinegar on the metabolic changes caused by hypercaloric diet in Wistar rats. Apple vinegar was first analyzed to find out the total acidity, the polyphenolic and flavonoid contents, the total antioxidant capacity, and the free radical scavenging activity. In vivo study on adult male and female Wistar rats was conducted by administering a drink containing either 10% D-glucose or water (control) for five weeks. Apple vinegar is administered daily by gavage (2 mL/kg) to rats fed D-glucose for 5 weeks. The results showed that the polyphenolic content in apple vinegar was 148.02 ± 10.16 mg GAE/100 mL, flavonoid content was 22.93 ± 0.73 QE/100 mL, and total antioxidant capacity was 13.4 ± 0.47 mg AAE/100 mL. Free radical IC₅₀ apple vinegar scavenging activity (DPPH) was 0.74 ± 0.154 μL/mL. The total acidity was (3.24 ± 0.02 mg AAE/100 mL). The treatment during five weeks with D-glucose leads to increased plasma glucose, lipid profile, hepatic enzyme levels, urea, and creatinine. Simultaneous treatment with apple vinegar improves the parameters studied. These results clearly show that the daily consumption of vinegar can reduce the rise in blood sugar and lipid profile induced by hypercaloric diet in rats. Therefore, the use of apple vinegar would have a very beneficial effect in the prevention of metabolic disorders caused by high-caloric food.

The Antioxidant Content and Protective Effect of Argan Oil and Syzygium aromaticum Essential Oil in Hydrogen Peroxide-Induced Biochemical and Histological Changes

Oxidative stress is an important etiology of chronic diseases and many studies have shown that natural products might alleviate oxidative stress-induced pathogenesis. The study aims to evaluate the effect of Argan oil and Syzygium aromaticum essential oil on hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂)-induced liver, brain and kidney tissue toxicity as well as biochemical changes in wistar rats. The antioxidant content of Argan oil and Syzygium aromaticum essential oil was studied with the use of gas chromatography. The animals received daily by gavage, for 21 days, either distilled water, Syzygium aromaticum essential oil, Argan oil, H₂O₂ alone, H₂O₂ and Syzygium aromaticum essential oil, or H₂O₂ and Argan oil. Blood samples were withdrawn on day 21 for the biochemical blood tests, and the kidney, liver and brain tissue samples were prepared for histopathology examination. The results showed that the content of antioxidant compounds in Syzygium aromaticum essential oil is higher than that found in Argan oil. H₂O₂ increased level of blood urea, liver enzymes, total cholesterol, Low Density Lipoprotein (LDL-C), Triglycerides (TG) and Very Low Density Lipoprotein (VLDL), and decreased the total protein, albumin and High Density Lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-C). There was no significant effect on blood electrolyte or serum creatinine. The histopathology examination demonstrated that H₂O₂ induces dilatation in the central vein, inflammation and binucleation in the liver, congestion and hemorrhage in the brain, and congestion in the kidney. The H₂O₂-induced histopathological and biochemical changes have been significantly alleviated by Syzygium aromaticum essential oil or Argan oil. It is concluded that the Argan oil and especially the mixture of Argan oil with Syzygium aromaticum essential oil can reduce the oxidative damage caused by H₂O_2, and this will pave the way to investigate the protective effects of these natural substances in the diseases attributed to the high oxidative stress.

Argan Oil as an Effective Nutri-Therapeutic Agent in Metabolic Syndrome: A Preclinical Study

The present study aims at examining the effects of argan oil on the three main cardiovascular risk factors associated with metabolic syndrome (hypertension, insulin resistance and obesity) and on one of its main complications, neuropathic pain. Male Sprague-Dawley rats had free access to a drinking solution containing 10% d-glucose or tap water for 12 weeks. The effect of argan oil was compared to that of corn oil given daily by gavage during 12 weeks in glucose-fed rats. Glucose-fed rats showed increases in systolic blood pressure, epididymal fat, plasma levels of triglycerides, leptin, glucose and insulin, insulin resistance, tactile and cold allodynia in association with a rise in superoxide anion production and NADPH oxidase activity in the thoracic aorta, epididymal fat and gastrocnemius muscle. Glucose-fed rats also showed rises in B₁ receptor protein expression in aorta and gastrocnemius muscle. Argan oil prevented or significantly reduced all those anomalies with an induction in plasma adiponectin levels. In contrast, the same treatment with corn oil had a positive impact only on triglycerides, leptin, adiponectin and insulin resistance. These data are the first to suggest that argan oil is an effective nutri-therapeutic agent to prevent the cardiovascular risk factors and complications associated with metabolic syndrome.

Ethnobotanic, Ethnopharmacologic Aspects and New Phytochemical Insights into Moroccan Argan Fruits

This review summarizes available data on argan fruit botany, geographical distribution, traditional uses, environmental interest, socioeconomic role, phytochemistry, as well as health beneficial effects and examination of future prospects. In particular, ethnomedical uses of argan fruits are carried out throughout Morocco where it has been used against various diseases. Different classes of bioactive compounds have been characterized including essential oils, fatty acids, triacylglycerols, flavonoids and their newly reported acylglycosyl derivatives, monophenols, phenolic acids, cinnamic acids, saponins, triterpenes, phytosterols, ubiquinone, melatonin, new aminophenols along with vitamin E among other secondary metabolites. The latter have already shown a wide spectrum of in vitro, and ex vivo biologicalactivities including antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-diabetic, antihypertensive, anti-hypercholesterolemia, analgesic, antimicrobial, molluscicidal anti-nociceptive and anticancer potential. Argan flesh (pulp) contains a broad spectrum of polyphenolic compounds which may have utility for incorporation into nutraceuticals and cosmeceuticals relevant to the food, cosmetic and health industries. Further research is recommended, especially on the health beneficial effects of the aminophenols.