The Amazonian “Bacuri” Seeds Butter ( Platonia insignis Mart.) Improves Ex Vivo Aortic Vascular Dysfunction and In Vivo Oxidative Stress in L‐NAME‐Treated Rats

ABSTRACT Cardiovascular diseases are the leading cause of death worldwide, with SAH being the most important risk factor. In the search for active ingredients, the species Platonia insignis Mart. has demonstrated vasorelaxant, antioxidant and hypotensive effects in vivo, demonstrating its application in the treatment of these diseases. The study aimed to investigate the antioxidant and vasorelaxant effects of an industrialised butter obtained from bacuri seeds (MIB), through in vitro, in vivo and ex vivo tests, at doses of 25 and 50 mg/kg, in the treatment of hypertension. The in vitro tests evaluated the effects of MIB on the formation of reactive species of thiobarbituric acid, nitrite and hydroxyl radical. In all tests, MIB showed antioxidant activity equivalent to the positive control. The ex vivo responsiveness of the aortic artery to acetylcholine (ACh) and sodium nitroprusside (SNP) after subacute treatment with MIB in hypertensive rats showed that the animals treated at a dose of 25 mg/kg showed greater reactivity to ACh. In the in vivo tests, the effects of MIB on the levels of MDA, GSH, MPO, SOD and CAT were investigated. The results show that there was a significant reduction in MDA and MPO levels and significant changes in GSH and SOD levels in the hypertensive animals treated with MIB when compared to the hypertensive control. These results highlight the therapeutic potential of MIB against hypertensive diseases and related oxidative stress, opening the way for the study of new therapeutic branches in the treatment of hypertensive individuals.