Effect of cocoa powder on hypertension and antioxidant status in uninephrectomized hypertensive rats

Vet World Vol.13 April-2020 Article-13

Research Article

Veterinary World, 13(4): 695-705

https://doi.org/10.14202/vetworld.2020.695-705

Olayinka Christianah Jayeola¹, Ademola Adetokunbo Oyagbemi², Omolara Ibiwunmi Okunlola³, Olayiwola Olubamiwa¹, Temidayo Olutayo Omobowale⁴, Temitayo Olabisi Ajibade², Foluso Bolawaye Bolaji-Alabi⁵, Blessing Seun Ogunpolu⁴, Olufunke Olubunmi Falayi⁶, Adebowale Benard Saba⁶, Adeolu Alex Adedapo⁶, Momoh Audu Yakubu⁷, Afolabi Oluwadun⁸, and Oluwafemi Omoniyi Oguntibeju⁹

1. Cocoa Research Institute of Nigeria, P.M.B 5244, Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria.
2. Department of Veterinary Physiology and Biochemistry, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria.
3. Standard Organization of Nigeria, Block 7, Obafemi Awolowo Way, Alausa Ikeja, Lagos, Nigeria.
4. Department of Veterinary Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Ibadan, Nigeria.
5. Department of Veterinary Theriogenology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria.
6. Department of Veterinary Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria.
7. Department of Environmental and Interdisciplinary Sciences, College of Science, Engineering and Technology, Vascular Biology Unit, Center for Cardiovascular Diseases, College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences (COPHS), Texas Southern University, Houston, Texas, USA.
8. Department of Medical Microbiology, Olabisi Onabanjo University, Sagamu Campus, Sagamu, Nigeria.
9. Phytomedicine and Phytochemistry Group, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Health and Wellness Sciences, Cape Peninsula University of Technology, Bellville 7535, South Africa.

Background and Aim: High salt diet and uninephrectomy are associated with high blood pressure with attendant cardiovascular disease conditions such as hypertension, renal damage, myocardial infarction, and stroke. The aim of this study was to investigate the beneficial effects of consumption of cocoa and cocoa-containing products in the management of high blood pressure in uninephrectomized hypertensive rats.

Materials and Methods: The effect of cocoa powder on blood pressure, markers of inflammation, oxidative stress, and histopathology were investigated in uninephrectomized animals fed with cocoa feed alone or in combination with a high salt diet. Male rats were randomly divided into five groups: Group A was the control group and fed with normal feed alone, Group B was fed with cocoa feed alone, Group C was fed with high salt diet (8% salt), Group D was fed with cocoa-feed compounded with 8% salt for 4 weeks after uninephrectomy, and Group E was uninephrectomized rats on a normal diet. The left kidneys of animals in Groups C, D, and E were removed by surgery. After 4 weeks of treatment, the systolic, diastolic, and mean arterial blood pressure was measured. The serum markers of renal damage and oxidative stress were determined. Histological examination was also performed on renal and cardiac tissues.

Results: Results showed significant increases in biomarkers of oxidative stress, inflammation, and renal damage with a concomitant decrease in antioxidant status in hypertensive uninephrectomized rats. Cocoa feed, however, significantly improved blood pressure and nitric oxide bioavailability, antioxidant status and reduced markers of inflammation and oxidative stress.

Conclusion: These findings show that cocoa powder could be used to maintain blood pressure levels in hypertensive rats through its antioxidant capacity. Keywords: antioxidant therapy, cocoa powder, high salt diet, hypertension, oxidative stress.

Keywords: antioxidant therapy, cocoa powder, high salt diet, hypertension, oxidative stress.

How to cite this article: Jayeola OC, Oyagbemi AA, Okunlola IO, Olubamiwa O, Omobowale TO, Ajibade TO, Bolaji-Alabi FB, Ogunpolu BS, Falayi OO, Saba AB, Adedapo AA, Yakubu MA, Oluwadun A, Oguntibeju OO (2020) Effect of cocoa powder on hypertension and antioxidant status in uninephrectomized hypertensive rats, Veterinary World, 13(4): 695-705.

Received: 04-10-2019 Accepted: 12-02-2020 Published online: 16-04-2020

Corresponding author: Ademola Adetokunbo Oyagbemi E-mail: ademola.oyagbemi778@gmail.com

DOI: 10.14202/vetworld.2020.695-705

Copyright: Jayeola, et al. This article is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided you give appropriate credit to the original author(s) and the source, provide a link to the Creative Commons license, and indicate if changes were made. The Creative Commons Public Domain Dedication waiver (http:// creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/) applies to the data made available in this article, unless otherwise stated.