Anthocyanins in chokeberry and purple maize attenuate diet-induced metabolic syndrome in rats

Maharshi Bhaswant; Siti Raihanah Shafie; Michael L Mathai; Peter Mouatt; Lindsay Brown

doi:10.1016/j.nut.2016.12.009

Anthocyanins in chokeberry and purple maize attenuate diet-induced metabolic syndrome in rats

Nutrition. 2017 Sep:41:24-31. doi: 10.1016/j.nut.2016.12.009. Epub 2016 Dec 28.

Authors

Maharshi Bhaswant¹, Siti Raihanah Shafie², Michael L Mathai³, Peter Mouatt⁴, Lindsay Brown⁵

Affiliations

¹ Centre for Chronic Disease, College of Health and Biomedicine, Victoria University, Melbourne, Australia; School of Health and Wellbeing, University of Southern Queensland, Toowoomba, Australia.
² School of Health and Wellbeing, University of Southern Queensland, Toowoomba, Australia.
³ Centre for Chronic Disease, College of Health and Biomedicine, Victoria University, Melbourne, Australia.
⁴ Analytical Research Laboratory, Southern Cross Plant Science, Southern Cross University, East Lismore, Australia.
⁵ School of Health and Wellbeing, University of Southern Queensland, Toowoomba, Australia. Electronic address: Lindsay.Brown@usq.edu.au.

PMID: 28760424
DOI: 10.1016/j.nut.2016.12.009

Abstract

Objective: Increased consumption of fruits and vegetables as functional foods leads to the reduction of signs of metabolic syndrome. The aim of this study was to measure and compare cardiovascular, liver, and metabolic parameters following chronic administration of the same dose of anthocyanins either from chokeberry (CB) or purple maize (PM) in rats with diet-induced metabolic syndrome.

Methods: Male Wistar rats were fed a maize starch (C) or high-carbohydrate, high-fat diet (H) and divided into six groups for 16 wk. The rats were fed C, C with CB or PM for the last 8 wk (CCB or CPM), H, H with CB or PM for the last 8 wk (HCB or HPM); CB and PM rats received ∼8 mg anthocyanins/kg daily. The rats were monitored for changes in blood pressure, cardiovascular and hepatic structure and function, glucose tolerance, and adipose tissue mass.

Results: HCB and HPM rats showed reduced visceral adiposity index, total body fat mass, and systolic blood pressure; improved glucose tolerance, liver, and cardiovascular structure and function; decreased plasma triacylglycerols and total cholesterol compared with H rats. Inflammatory cell infiltration was reduced in heart and liver.

Conclusion: CB and PM interventions gave similar responses, suggesting that anthocyanins are the bioactive molecules in the attenuation or reversal of metabolic syndrome by prevention of inflammation-induced damage.

Keywords: Anthocyanins; Aronia melanocarpa; Chokeberry; Metabolic syndrome; Purple maize; Zea mays.

MeSH terms

Animals
Anthocyanins / pharmacology*
Disease Models, Animal
Male
Metabolic Syndrome / drug therapy*
Metabolic Syndrome / metabolism
Photinia / metabolism*
Phytotherapy / methods*
Rats
Zea mays / metabolism*

Substances

Anthocyanins