Open AccessAntihypertensive, cardio- and neuro-protective effects of Tenebrio molitor (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae) defatted larvae in spontaneously hypertensive rats
Author(s) -
Federica Pessina,
Maria Frosini,
Paola Marcolongo,
Fabio Fusi,
Simona Saponara,
Alessandra Gamberucci,
Massimo Valoti,
Daniela Giustarini,
Paolo Fiorenzani,
Beatrice Gorelli,
Valeria Francardi,
Maurizio Botta,
Elena Dreassi
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
plos one
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.99
H-Index - 332
ISSN - 1932-6203
DOI - 10.1371/journal.pone.0233788
Subject(s) - mealworm , captopril , blood pressure , glutathione , medicine , oxidative stress , endocrinology , spontaneously hypertensive rat , coronary perfusion pressure , in vivo , biology , chemistry , pharmacology , larva , biochemistry , enzyme , anesthesia , botany , microbiology and biotechnology , cardiopulmonary resuscitation , resuscitation
In pre-hypertension, moderate control of blood pressure (BP) can be obtained by a nutritional approach. The effects of a diet enriched with defatted larvae of the mealworm Tenebrio molitor (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae) (TM) endowed with ACE inhibitory activity was studied in both spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) and in the age-matched normotensive Wistar Kyoto strain. These were fed for 4 weeks with standard laboratory rodent chow supplemented with or without TM or captopril. In SHR, the TM diet caused a significant reduction in BP, heart rate and coronary perfusion pressure, as well as an increase in red blood cell glutathione/glutathione disulphide ratio. Rat brain slices of SHR were more resistant to oxidative stress and contained lower levels of inflammatory cytokines, while vascular and liver enzyme-activities were not affected. These results suggest that TM can be considered a new functional food that can lower BP in vivo and thus control cardiovascular-associated risk factors such as hypertension.