Composite biscuits from sandpaper and acha flour restore the altered activity of arginase, cholinergic, and purinergic enzymes in hypertensive-diabetic rats.

Hypertension is one of the common co-morbidities in diabetes. Thus, the present study sought to study the effects of composite biscuits from the mixture of acha (Digitaria exilis) and sandpaper (Fiscus exasperata) leaf flours (ASLF) on mean arterial blood pressure (MABP), arginase, cholinergic, purinergic enzymatic cascade, and nitric oxide (NO) levels as well as oxidative status in streptozotocin (STZ)/L-N -nitro arginine methyl ester (L-NAME)-induced hypertensive/diabetic rats. Experimental rats were distributed randomly into 7 groups (n = 5). Group I-III rats were placed on the basal diet; IV-VII rats were placed on composite biscuits designated as A, B, C, and D respectively for 14 days. On the 13th day, the MABP of the experimental rats was monitored and recorded. Thereafter, the rats were sacrificed, tissues of interest were harvested, and homogenized. Subsequently, the activity of arginase cholinesterase and purinergic enzymes, as well as NO levels were evaluated in the experimental rats. However, hypertensive/diabetic rats placed on the formulated diet exhibited reduced MABP when compared with the untreated hypertensive/diabetic rats. Also, altered activity of arginase, cholinergic and purinergic were restored in diet-treated hypertensive/diabetic rats when compared with hypertensive/diabetic rats. Similarly, the NO level and antioxidant status of the treated hypertensive/diabetic rats were notably enhanced when compared with hypertensive/diabetic rats. It could be inferred that composite biscuits exhibited an ameliorative effect in hypertensive/diabetic states via their reductive effect on the MABP, arginase, cholinesterase, and purinergic enzymes and enhanced NO levels in hypertensive/diabetic rats. Meanwhile, the biscuit designated as D had seems better when their effects were compared holistically. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS: Acha grains and sandpaper leaf have been used in the folklore for disease treatment. However, the production of composite biscuits from these naturally available recipes for the management of hypertensive diabetics proved therapeutic since their effect on hypertensive diabetic rats is positive. Therefore, the composite biscuit will offer nutraceutical benefits to both healthy and disease individuals.