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 ex vivo. 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.