Combined Effects of Sacha Inchi Protein Hydrolysate and Reduced-Dose Captopril on Duodenal and Cecal Morphology in L-NAME-Induced Hypertensive Rats
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.48048/tis.2026.12853Keywords:
Captopril, Hypertension model, Intestinal histology, Mucosal remodeling, Inflammation, Sacha inchi protein hydrolysate, L-NAME, Captopril, Hypertension model, Intestinal histology, Mucosal remodeling, Inflammation, Sacha inchi protein hydrolysate, L-NAMEAbstract
Hypertension disrupts intestinal homeostasis through structural remodeling and immune activation, contributing to gastrointestinal pathology. Angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibition confers measurable but incomplete tissue protection, suggesting that adjunctive approaches may further preserve intestinal integrity. This exploratory experimental study examined the intestinal effects of captopril alone or in combination with Sacha inchi protein hydrolysate, a plant-derived protein powder obtained from Plukenetia volubilis, in L-NAME-induced hypertensive rats (n = 4 - 5 per group). Animals were allocated to control, L-NAME, L-NAME plus captopril (5 mg/kg), or L-NAME plus low-dose captopril (2.5 mg/kg) combined with Sacha inchi protein hydrolysate (500 mg/kg). Histological analyses of the duodenum and cecum showed that L-NAME treatment induced pronounced mucosal thinning, muscular hypertrophy, reduced collagen deposition, vascular dilation, and increased inflammatory cell infiltration. Full-dose captopril partially attenuated these alterations but did not fully restore intestinal architecture. In contrast, the combination treatment significantly increased mucosal thickness in both intestinal regions (p < 0.001), enhanced collagen deposition (p < 0.05), and improved vascular architecture (p < 0.05), while inflammatory indices showed a consistent trend toward reduction. For several parameters, the combined regimen achieved outcomes comparable to or exceeding those observed with full-dose captopril. Collectively, these findings indicate that Sacha inchi protein hydrolysate may augment the intestinal protective effects of captopril under hypertensive conditions. Although preliminary and limited by sample size, the results provide supportive evidence for further investigation of plant-derived bioactive proteins as adjunctive strategies to mitigate hypertension-associated gastrointestinal remodeling.
HIGHLIGHTS
- Hypertension induces marked structural and immune disruption in the intestine.
- Captopril provides only partial protection against L-NAME–induced intestinal damage.
- Sacha inchi protein hydrolysate enhances the restorative effects of reduced-dose captopril.
- Combination therapy restores mucosal thickness, collagen, and vascular architecture.
- Findings support dose-sparing therapeutic strategies for hypertension-related gut pathology.
GRAPHICAL ABSTRACT
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