Neem seed protein hydrolysates alleviate iron-induced cardiac injury via effects on angiotensin-converting enzyme, purinergic enzymes, redox balance, and lipid metabolism

This study assessed the cardioprotective effects of <1 kDa peptide fractions from neem seed protein hydrolysates (NSPHs) in cardiac tissues <i>ex vivo</i>. Oxidative injury was induced in cardiac tissues from male Wister rats by incubating with 0.1 mM FeSO₄ (pro-oxidant) for 30 minutes. Untreated tissues lacked peptide fractions, while normal control tissues lacked peptide and pro-oxidant. Treatment with the peptides increased the activities/levels of catalase, superoxide dismutase, ENTPDase, 5'NTPDase, glutathione, and HDL-cholesterol. Conversely, the levels/activities of malondialdehyde, nitric oxide, cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol, ACE, acetylcholinesterase, ATPase decreased following treatment with NSPH peptide fractions. Furthermore, the peptides depleted oxidative metabolites, while concomitantly inactivating plasmalogen synthesis and beta-oxidation of long-chain saturated fatty acids. These findings suggest that <1 kDa peptide fractions from neem seed protein hydrolysates have cardioprotective properties, potentially offering a natural therapeutic option for managing oxidative cardiac dysfunction through the regulation of oxidative stress, cholinesterase and purinergic activities, and lipid metabolism.