Lentil has a high content of phenolics and antioxidant capability among legumes. We tested lentil's ability to attenuate angiotensin II-induced cardiomyocyte hypertrophy in cardiomyocyte cell cultures and in rats.  Phenolic substances were extracted from both raw and cooked lentil, and applied to rat and human cardiomyocytes, and fed to rats to investigate their effect on cell hypertrophy and hypertension (vascular and blood pressure changes).  Reactive oxygen species (ROS) were measured using DHE and Eth-DNA fluorescence monitoring assays.  Results showed that treatments with lentil extract (25, 50, 100 �g/ml) significantly attenuatedAng II (0.1�M)-induced hypertrophy by 18%, 28%, and 36% in rat cardiomycytes, respectively; and 9%, 17%, and 25% in human cardiomycytes by lentil extract (12.5, 25, 50 �g/ml), respectively. Intracellular ROS levels were enhanced by Ang II treatment and this stimulatory action was significantly attenuated (33% inhibition) by lentil extract (100 �g/ml) in rat cardiomyocytes, and 22% by lentil extract (50 �g/ml) in human cardiomyocytes.  After 4-weeks of subcutaneous infusion of angiotensin II (200 ng/kg/min) in rats, the ROS level in aorta was enhanced by 115.8%.  Mean artery pressure were decreased by 8.2%, in lentil group. The angiotensin II-induced increases in the media/lumen ratio were decreased by 43.6% and 47.2% in the small arteries of heart and kidney, respectively, by lentil intake.  Angiotensin II-induced perivascular fibrosis was attenuated by 30% and 26% in the rats received the extract.  Angiotensin II-induced elevation in ROS levels in aorta was reduced by 48.9%. These findings demonstrated that lentil extract attenuated angiotensin II-induced hypertension and associated pathological changes, including remodeling and perivascular fibrosis in the small resistant arteries of heart and kidney, via decreasing the ROS level.  The above work was done with raw lentil extract.  Cooked lentil extract also showed positive effects and this is important since legumes must be cooked before consumption.

Lentil phenolic extracts reduced ROS and angiotensin  II-induced cardiomyocyte hypertrophy and hypertension in cells and rats

248th National Meeting (2014)

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