Chemical characterization, in vivo anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory and anti-apoptotic properties of Peperomia pellucida in modulating vascular tone in Swiss mice exposed to aluminium chloride

Background Regulation of balance between vasoconstriction and vasodilation has become a therapeutic target to vascular complications. However, Aluminium chloride, a naturally abundant environmental toxicant has been reported to disrupt this balance via increased oxidative stress and inflammation in several studies. Whether Peperomia pellucida, a popular medicinal plant known for its pharmacological benefits can modulate vascular tone in mice exposed to aluminium chloride is yet to be unravelled. This study investigated the effect of Peperomia pellucida ethanol leaf extract on aluminium chloride induced vascular dysfunction in male Swiss mice. Methods Phytochemical profiling of Peperomia pellucida was done using GC-MS and vascular effect of Peperomia pellucida was investigated by administering 50mg and 100mg of the extract alongside aluminium chloride orally for 14 days. Aorta was harvested for biochemical (SOD, CAT, GSH, MDA, nitrites), ELISA (endothelin-1, TNF-α and IL-6) assays as well as immunohistochemical studies (occludin and caspase-3). Results GC-MS profiling showed 8 phytocompounds with 3,5-Dimethoxybenzamide as the highest peak area. Antioxidant armouries such as SOD catalase, glutathione as well as vascular occludin expression was significantly enhanced by Peperomia pellucida (50mg/kg and 100mg/kg) against aluminium chloride perturbations while suppressing TNF-α, IL-6, ET-1 activities and caspase-3 expression against increase caused by aluminium chloride intoxication. Conclusion Our result showed that Peperomia pellucida leaf extract modulated vascular tone via antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and ant-apoptotic properties which was mediated by its phytocompounds