Inhibitory effect of beetroot (Beta vulgaris) juice extract, and its implication for cardiovascular disease.

Department of Medical Biochemistry, School of Basic Medical Sciences, College of Medical Sciences, University of Benin, Benin City, Edo State.
⃰Ogedengbe, O.O, Onwuatuegwu, C.I, Adigwe,V, Ukwonwo- Ediale, A.C, Oboh, H.A.
Corresponding Author: opeyemi.ogedengbe@uniben.edu / ogedengbeopeyemi20@gmail.com
Recieved Date: December, 2020; Accepted Date: December, 2020; Published Date: December, 2020
ABSTRACT

Background: Beetroot (Beta vulgaris) is a bulbous purplish red root vegetable that can be used as a functional food because of its inherent phytochemicals, antioxidant properties and pharmacotherapeutic properties. Inhibition of arginase and lipase could improve cardiovascular health by increasing production of nitrous oxide and reducing obesity. This study was carried out to investigate the in vitro inhibitory effects of raw and heat-treated beetroot (Beta vulgaris) extracts on arginase and lipase enzymes. Materials and Methods: Arginase and lipase inhibitory activities of the raw and heat-treated beetroot extracts were elucidated in vitro, by adding the respective enzymes with dissolved freeze-dried beetroot extracts and the buffer - substrate complex. The ability of the beetroot extracts to inhibit the enzymes and as well as the respective IC50 values were determined by spectrophotometric methods. Results: There was a dose-dependent increase in the percentage inhibitions of arginase and lipase activities by raw and heat-treated beetroot. The heat-treated beetroot had the strongest inhibitory activity due to its lower half-maximal inhibition concentration (IC50) values of 127.73 ?g/mL and 373.11?g/mL for arginase and lipase respectively, when compared to the raw beetroot values of 133.68 ?g/mL and 472.08 ?g/mL respectively. Conclusion: The in vitro inhibitory effect of beetroot extract on arginase and lipase could give direction to carry out further studies on its ability to improve cardiovascular health. There is a need to investigate this potential in vivo.

Keywords: Beetroot juice, cardiovascular diseases, lipase, arginase.
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