Beneficial effects of argan oil on blood pressure, insulin resistance, and oxidative stress in rat

• Five weeks of treatment with glucose led to hypertension and insulin resistance.
• Glucose-fed rats exhibited higher vascular oxidative stress.
• Argan oil corrected vascular oxidative stress and reduced hypertension.
• Corn oil had no effect on vascular oxidative stress and hypertension.
• Insulin resistance was improved by treatments with either argan or corn oil.

ObjectiveThe aim of the present study was to investigate whether a 5-wk treatment with argan oil, which is known for its antioxidant properties, can reduce arterial hypertension, hyperglycemia, insulin resistance, and enhanced basal superoxide anion production and nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH) oxidase activity in the aorta of glucose-fed rats.MethodsSprague-Dawley rats had free access to a drinking solution containing 10% d-glucose or tap water (control) for 5 wk. The effect of argan oil in glucose-fed rats was compared with that of corn oil given daily by gavage (5 mL/kg) over a 5-wk period. Oxidative stress was evaluated by measuring the superoxide anion production and the NADPH oxidase activity using the lucigenin method.ResultsThe 5-wk treatment with glucose led to increases in systolic blood pressure, plasma glucose, and insulin levels as well as an increase in the insulin resistance index in association with a rise in superoxide anion production and NADPH oxidase activity (sensitive to diphenyleneiodonium) in the aorta. The simultaneous treatment with argan oil prevented or significantly reduced all of these effects, yet the same treatment with corn oil had a positive effect only on hyperinsulinemia and insulin resistance.ConclusionsThe findings from the present study demonstrated that argan oil treatment reduced elevation of blood pressure, hyperglycemia, and insulin resistance through its antioxidative properties in glucose-fed rats. Hence, argan oil, which is now available in the market as a consumable food, may be of potential therapeutic value in the treatment of arterial hypertension and insulin resistance.