title: Antidiabetic and antihypertensive effect of Virgin Argan Oil in model of neonatal streptozotocin-induced diabetic and l-nitroarginine methylester (l-NAME) hypertensive rats.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The goal of this study was to examine the effect of Virgin Argan Oil (VAO) obtained from the fruit of Argania spinosa in a model of type 2 diabetes and hypertensive rats. Neonatal diabetes was induced by a single i.p. injection of streptozotocin (90 mg/kg) 2 days after birth. To induce NO-deficient hypertension, the adult diabetic animals were treated with l-nitroarginine methylester (l-NAME) (30 mg/kg/day) given orally for 21 days.
  
  
  METHODS
  Following treatment with VAO (21 days), the hyperglycemia decreased to 1.3 ± 0.07 g/l compared with 1.92 ± 0.09 g/l (p < 0.01) in the untreated diabetic-hypertensive rats. The simultaneous administration of VAO with l-NAME prevented the increase in blood pressure during the 3 weeks of treatment. Blood pressure remained constant at 131 ± 1 mm Hg after 21 days - vs 157 ± 0.64 mm Hg in untreated animals (p < 0.001).
  
  
  RESULTS
  The treatment with VAO to diabetic-hypertensive rats caused a significant increase of hepatic glycogen levels (13.3 ± 1.8 vs 6.34 ± 0.75 mg/g tissue in untreated diabetic-hypertensive control group; p < 0.01).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In conclusion, the overall findings indicate that VAO possesses antidiabetic and antihypertensive activity in n-stz/l-NAME rats. This effect may be related to its high content of tocopherols, phenolic compounds, and unsaturated fatty acids.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Physiology and Ethnopharmacology, URAC 40, Faculty of Sciences, Department of Biology, University Mohamed Ist, Boulevard Mohamed VI, BP:717, 60 000 Oujda, Morocco. bellahcen_said@yahoo.fr
authors.forename: Said
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bellahcen
authors.forename: Zineb
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Hakkou
authors.forename: Abderrahim
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ziyyat
authors.forename: Abdelkhaleq
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Legssyer
authors.forename: Hassane
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Mekhfi
authors.forename: Mohammed
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Aziz
authors.forename: Mohamed
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bnouham
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D000959:Antihypertensive Agents / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000378:metabolism; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects; D003921:Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism; D006003:Glycogen / Q000378:metabolism; D006943:Hyperglycemia / Q000188:drug therapy; D006973:Hypertension / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008099:Liver / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D019331:NG-Nitroarginine Methyl Ester; D008517:Phytotherapy; D010938:Plant Oils / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D029632:Sapotaceae / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D000959:Antihypertensive Agents; D001786:Blood Glucose; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents; D010938:Plant Oils; C555574:argan oil; D006003:Glycogen; D019331:NG-Nitroarginine Methyl Ester