Therapeutic effects of tender coconut water on oxidative stress in fructose fed insulin resistant hypertensive rats

Abstract

Objective: To investigate whether tender coconut water (TCW) mitigates oxidative stress in fructose fed hypertensive rats.

Methods: Male Sprague Dawley rats were fed with fructose rich diet and treated with TCW (4 mL/100 g of body weight) for 3 subsequent weeks. Systolic blood pressure was measured every three days using the indirect tail cuff method. At the end of the experimental period, plasma glucose and insulin, serum triglycerides and free fatty acids, lipid peroxidation markers (MDA, hydroperoxides and conjugated dienes) and the activities of antioxidant enzymes were analyzed in all the groups.

Results: Treatment with TCW significantly lowered the systolic blood pressure and reduced serum triglycerides and free fatty acids. Plasma glucose and insulin levels and lipid peroxidation markers such as MDA, hydroperoxides and conjugated dienes were significantly reduced in fructose fed rats treated with TCW. Activities of antioxidant enzymes are up regulated significantly in TCW treated rats. Histopathological analysis of liver showed that TCW treatment reduced the lipid accumulation and inflammatory infiltration without any significant hepatocellular damage.

Conclusions: The overall results suggest that, TCW treatment could prevent and reverse high blood pressure induced by high fructose diet probably by inhibition of lipid peroxidation, upregulation of antioxidant status and improved insulin sensitivity.