Ameliorative Effects of Beetroot Juice Supplementation on Monocrotaline-Induced Pulmonary Hypertension in Rats
Beetroot is a nitrate-rich vegetable with cardiovascular benefits. This study examined whether ingestion of beetroot juice (BRJ) protects against pulmonary hypertension (PH). Rats were injected subcutaneously with 60 mg/kg monocrotaline (MCT) and randomized to receive either drinking water, low-dose...
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MDPI AG
2022-11-01
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| Series: | Future Pharmacology |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2673-9879/2/4/33 |
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| author | Masashi Tawa Junya Nagano Junpei Kitama Shunto Abe Ako Fujita Keisuke Nakagawa Mamoru Ohkita |
| author_facet | Masashi Tawa Junya Nagano Junpei Kitama Shunto Abe Ako Fujita Keisuke Nakagawa Mamoru Ohkita |
| author_sort | Masashi Tawa |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Beetroot is a nitrate-rich vegetable with cardiovascular benefits. This study examined whether ingestion of beetroot juice (BRJ) protects against pulmonary hypertension (PH). Rats were injected subcutaneously with 60 mg/kg monocrotaline (MCT) and randomized to receive either drinking water, low-dose BRJ (BRJ-L, nitrate content: 1.4 mmol/L), or high-dose BRJ (BRJ-H, nitrate content: 3.5 mmol/L), which was started 1 week after MCT injection and continued until the end of the experiment. Four weeks after MCT injection, right ventricle (RV) hypertrophy, right ventricular systolic pressure (RVSP) elevation, and pulmonary vascular remodeling were observed. These PH symptoms were less severe in rats supplemented with BRJ-L (Fulton index, <i>p</i> = 0.07; RVSP, <i>p</i> = 0.09, pulmonary arterial medial thickening, <i>p</i> < 0.05), and the beneficial effects were more pronounced than those of BRJ-H supplementation. Plasma and RV nitrite and nitrate levels did not change significantly, even when BRJ-L and BRJ-H were administered. There were no differences in plasma thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS), a biomarker of oxidative stress, among the groups. BRJ-L supplementation significantly decreased RV TBARS levels compared to MCT alone (<i>p</i> < 0.05), whereas BRJ-H supplementation did not. These findings suggest that starting BRJ supplementation from an early stage of PH ameliorates disease severity, at least partly through the inhibition of local oxidative stress. Habitual ingestion of BRJ may be useful for the management of PH. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T16:33:46Z |
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| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T16:33:46Z |
| publishDate | 2022-11-01 |
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| spelling | doaj.art-d911ef8d436447d19da2bd624352b5022023-11-24T14:59:04ZengMDPI AGFuture Pharmacology2673-98792022-11-012454755710.3390/futurepharmacol2040033Ameliorative Effects of Beetroot Juice Supplementation on Monocrotaline-Induced Pulmonary Hypertension in RatsMasashi Tawa0Junya Nagano1Junpei Kitama2Shunto Abe3Ako Fujita4Keisuke Nakagawa5Mamoru Ohkita6Department of Pathological and Molecular Pharmacology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Osaka Medical and Pharmaceutical University, Takatsuki 569-1094, Osaka, JapanDepartment of Pathological and Molecular Pharmacology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Osaka Medical and Pharmaceutical University, Takatsuki 569-1094, Osaka, JapanDepartment of Pathological and Molecular Pharmacology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Osaka Medical and Pharmaceutical University, Takatsuki 569-1094, Osaka, JapanDepartment of Pathological and Molecular Pharmacology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Osaka Medical and Pharmaceutical University, Takatsuki 569-1094, Osaka, JapanDepartment of Pathological and Molecular Pharmacology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Osaka Medical and Pharmaceutical University, Takatsuki 569-1094, Osaka, JapanDepartment of Pathological and Molecular Pharmacology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Osaka Medical and Pharmaceutical University, Takatsuki 569-1094, Osaka, JapanDepartment of Pathological and Molecular Pharmacology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Osaka Medical and Pharmaceutical University, Takatsuki 569-1094, Osaka, JapanBeetroot is a nitrate-rich vegetable with cardiovascular benefits. This study examined whether ingestion of beetroot juice (BRJ) protects against pulmonary hypertension (PH). Rats were injected subcutaneously with 60 mg/kg monocrotaline (MCT) and randomized to receive either drinking water, low-dose BRJ (BRJ-L, nitrate content: 1.4 mmol/L), or high-dose BRJ (BRJ-H, nitrate content: 3.5 mmol/L), which was started 1 week after MCT injection and continued until the end of the experiment. Four weeks after MCT injection, right ventricle (RV) hypertrophy, right ventricular systolic pressure (RVSP) elevation, and pulmonary vascular remodeling were observed. These PH symptoms were less severe in rats supplemented with BRJ-L (Fulton index, <i>p</i> = 0.07; RVSP, <i>p</i> = 0.09, pulmonary arterial medial thickening, <i>p</i> < 0.05), and the beneficial effects were more pronounced than those of BRJ-H supplementation. Plasma and RV nitrite and nitrate levels did not change significantly, even when BRJ-L and BRJ-H were administered. There were no differences in plasma thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS), a biomarker of oxidative stress, among the groups. BRJ-L supplementation significantly decreased RV TBARS levels compared to MCT alone (<i>p</i> < 0.05), whereas BRJ-H supplementation did not. These findings suggest that starting BRJ supplementation from an early stage of PH ameliorates disease severity, at least partly through the inhibition of local oxidative stress. Habitual ingestion of BRJ may be useful for the management of PH.https://www.mdpi.com/2673-9879/2/4/33beetroot juicemonocrotalinenitrateoxidative stresspulmonary hypertension |
| spellingShingle | Masashi Tawa Junya Nagano Junpei Kitama Shunto Abe Ako Fujita Keisuke Nakagawa Mamoru Ohkita Ameliorative Effects of Beetroot Juice Supplementation on Monocrotaline-Induced Pulmonary Hypertension in Rats Future Pharmacology beetroot juice monocrotaline nitrate oxidative stress pulmonary hypertension |
| title | Ameliorative Effects of Beetroot Juice Supplementation on Monocrotaline-Induced Pulmonary Hypertension in Rats |
| title_full | Ameliorative Effects of Beetroot Juice Supplementation on Monocrotaline-Induced Pulmonary Hypertension in Rats |
| title_fullStr | Ameliorative Effects of Beetroot Juice Supplementation on Monocrotaline-Induced Pulmonary Hypertension in Rats |
| title_full_unstemmed | Ameliorative Effects of Beetroot Juice Supplementation on Monocrotaline-Induced Pulmonary Hypertension in Rats |
| title_short | Ameliorative Effects of Beetroot Juice Supplementation on Monocrotaline-Induced Pulmonary Hypertension in Rats |
| title_sort | ameliorative effects of beetroot juice supplementation on monocrotaline induced pulmonary hypertension in rats |
| topic | beetroot juice monocrotaline nitrate oxidative stress pulmonary hypertension |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2673-9879/2/4/33 |
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