Modulatory effect of wild lettuce and African eggplant leaf extract on key enzymatic activity linked to hypertension in L-NAME induced hypertensive rats

Vegetables are vital for balanced diets as they are a good source of nutraceuticals for humans. This study looks to assess the underlying preventive mechanisms of wild lettuce (WL) and African eggplant leaves (AE) in hypertensive rats. The experimental rats were grouped into seven groups with six rats in each group as follows: Normotensive rats (group 1); hypertensive (HYP) rats (group 2); HYP rats treated with captopril (10 mg/kg/day) (group 3); HYP rats treated with WL (250 and 500 mg/kg/day) (group 4 and 5 respectively) and HYP rats treated EP (250 and 500 mg/kg/day) (group 6 and 7). The experiment lasted for 14 d. Administration of WL and EP leaves extract normalized altered activity of angiotensin 1 converting enzymes (ACE), arginase, and acetylcholinesterase (AChE) in treated HYP rats when compared with the untreated HYP rats. Also, nitric oxide (NO) levels and antioxidant status were enhanced in the treated HYP rats when compared with the untreated HYP rats. Meanwhile, some of the antihypertensive preventive mechanisms of WL and EP leaves were able to modulate the altered activity of ACE, arginase, AChE, enhanced endothelial function (improved NO production and reduced arginase activity), and improved antioxidant prowess when compared with untreated HYP rats. Remarkably, WL leaves had better anti-hypertensive properties than EP leaves. Nevertheless, the consumption of these vegetables could be a veritable dietary approach to actualizing healthy status in a hypertensive state.