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

J Med Food. 2017 Feb;20(2):110-115. doi: 10.1089/jmf.2016.0087. Epub 2016 Dec 15.

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.

Keywords: adiposity; dietary-induced hyperlipidemia; hypertension; phenolic compounds.

MeSH terms

  • Adipose Tissue / drug effects
  • Adipose Tissue / metabolism*
  • Animals
  • Blood Pressure / drug effects
  • Humans
  • Lipid Metabolism / drug effects*
  • Male
  • Metabolic Syndrome / drug therapy*
  • Metabolic Syndrome / metabolism
  • Metabolic Syndrome / physiopathology*
  • Plant Extracts / pharmacology*
  • Rats
  • Rats, Wistar
  • Sucrose / adverse effects*
  • Sucrose / metabolism
  • Zea mays / chemistry*
  • Zea mays / metabolism

Substances

  • Plant Extracts
  • Sucrose