Sacha inchi meal protein hydrolysate mitigates lipid accumulation and oxidative stress in HepG2 and 3 T3-L1 cells and synergistically enhances captopril's antihypertensive effects in L-NAME-induced hypertensive rats

This study evaluates the antihypertensive effects of Sacha Inchi meal protein hydrolysate (SIPH) in L-NAME-induced hypertensive rats. Male Sprague Dawley rats treated with L-NAME (40 mg/kg) received SIPH (100, 300, or 500 mg/kg), captopril (5 mg/kg), or a combination of captopril (2.5 mg/kg) and SIPH (500 mg/kg) for 5 weeks. Blood pressure was monitored weekly and verified via carotid artery cannulation. SIPH at 500 mg/kg, incombination with captopril, significantly reduced blood pressure, upregulated eNOS expression, alleviated renal and liver injury, enhanced sperm viability, and downregulated VCAM-1 expression. In HepG2 and 3 T3-L1 cells, SIPH mitigated oxidative stress, hepatic steatosis, and lipid accumulation. Together, these in vitro and in vivo findings suggest that SIPH could serve as a promising nutraceutical candidate for antihypertensive functional foods. • SIPH demonstrates strong potential in reducing lipid accumulation, oxidative stress, and cell damage. • Oral SIPH administration reduced blood pressure in L-NAME-induced hypertensive rats. • SIPH and captopril synergistically enhances eNOS, inhibits VCAM-1, and may suppress MMP-9 for protection. • SIPH preserved cardiovascular structure, reducing renal and liver injury, and increasing sperm viability.