Alligator pepper/Grain of Paradise (Aframomum melegueta) modulates Angiotensin-I converting enzyme activity, lipid profile and oxidative imbalances in a rat model of hypercholesterolemia  Stephen A. Adefegha, Ganiyu Oboh, Omowunmi M. Adefegha, Thomas Henle  Pathophysiology  Volume 23, Issue 3, Pages 191-202 (September 2016) DOI: 10.1016/j.pathophys.2016.05.005 Copyright © 2016 Elsevier B.V. Terms and Conditions

Fig. 1 Chromatogram showing the UPLC-PDA analysis of amino acids in aqueous extracts of Alligator pepper at 254nm. Pathophysiology 2016 23, 191-202DOI: (10.1016/j.pathophys.2016.05.005) Copyright © 2016 Elsevier B.V. Terms and Conditions

Fig. 2 Effect of diets supplemented with APS on triglyceride level in hypercholesterolemic rats. Values represent mean±standard deviation (n=6). *Values are not significantly (P>0.05) different from normal control group. #Values are significantly (P<0.05) different from normal control group. ##Values are significantly (P<0.05) different from hypercholesterolemic control group. $Values are significantly (P<0.05) different from normal and hypercholesterolemic control groups. Keys NC—normal rat group, fed with basal diet. HC—rat group fed with basal diet plus 2% cholesterol alone (hypercholesterolemic control rats). HC+STA—hypercholesterolemic rat group that received oral administration of 0.2mg/kg body weight of simvastatin (a known hypocholesterolemic drug). HC+2% APS—rat group fed diet supplemented with 2% Alligator pepper seeds plus 2% cholesterol. HC+4% APS—rat group fed diet supplemented with 4% Alligator pepper seeds plus 2% cholesterol. Pathophysiology 2016 23, 191-202DOI: (10.1016/j.pathophys.2016.05.005) Copyright © 2016 Elsevier B.V. Terms and Conditions

Fig. 3 Effect of diets supplemented with Alligator pepper on total cholesterol level in hypercholesterolemic rats. Values represent mean±standard deviation (n=6). #Values are significantly (P<0.05) different from normal control group. ##Values are significantly (P<0.05) different from hypercholesterolemic control group. $Values are significantly (P<0.05) different from normal and hypercholesterolemic control groups. Keys NC—normal rat group, fed with basal diet. HC—rat group fed with basal diet plus 2% cholesterol alone (hypercholesterolemic control rats). HC+STA—hypercholesterolemic rat group that received oral administration of 0.2mg/kg body weight of simvastatin (a known hypocholesterolemic drug). HC+2% APS—rat group fed diet supplemented with 2% Alligator pepper seeds plus 2% cholesterol. HC+4% APS—rat group fed diet supplemented with 4% Alligator pepper seeds plus 2% cholesterol. Pathophysiology 2016 23, 191-202DOI: (10.1016/j.pathophys.2016.05.005) Copyright © 2016 Elsevier B.V. Terms and Conditions

Fig. 4 Effect of diets supplemented with Alligator pepper on LDL-cholesterol level in hypercholesterolemic rats. Values represent mean±standard deviation (n=6). *Values are not significantly (P>0.05) different from normal control group. #Values are significantly (P<0.05) different from normal control group. ##Values are significantly (P<0.05) different from hypercholesterolemic control group. $Values are significantly (P<0.05) different from normal and hypercholesterolemic control groups. Keys NC—normal rat group, fed with basal diet. HC—rat group fed with basal diet plus 2% cholesterol alone (hypercholesterolemic control rats). HC+STA—hypercholesterolemic rat group that received oral administration of 0.2mg/kg body weight of simvastatin (a known hypocholesterolemic drug). HC+2% APS—rat group fed diet supplemented with 2% Alligator pepper seeds plus 2% cholesterol. HC+4% APS—rat group fed diet supplemented with 4% Alligator pepper seeds plus 2% cholesterol. Pathophysiology 2016 23, 191-202DOI: (10.1016/j.pathophys.2016.05.005) Copyright © 2016 Elsevier B.V. Terms and Conditions

Fig. 5 Effect of diets supplemented with Alligator pepper on HDL-cholesterol level in hypercholesterolemic rats. Values represent mean±standard deviation (n=6). *Values are not significantly (P>0.05) different from hypercholesterolemic control group. #Values are significantly (P<0.05) different from normal control group. ##Values are significantly (P<0.05) different from hypercholesterolemic control group. $Values are significantly (P<0.05) different from normal and hypercholesterolemic control groups. Keys NC—normal rat group, fed with basal diet. HC—rat group fed with basal diet plus 2% cholesterol alone (hypercholesterolemic control rats). HC+STA—hypercholesterolemic rat group that received oral administration of 0.2mg/kg body weight of simvastatin (a known hypocholesterolemic drug). HC+2% APS—rat group fed diet supplemented with 2% Alligator pepper seeds plus 2% cholesterol. HC+4% APS—rat group fed diet supplemented with 4% Alligator pepper seeds plus 2% cholesterol. Pathophysiology 2016 23, 191-202DOI: (10.1016/j.pathophys.2016.05.005) Copyright © 2016 Elsevier B.V. Terms and Conditions

Fig. 6 Chemical structures of some amino acid constituents present in free and bound forms of Alligator pepper that may synergistically and additively act with other antioxidant phytochemicals to elicit the salutary effect. Pathophysiology 2016 23, 191-202DOI: (10.1016/j.pathophys.2016.05.005) Copyright © 2016 Elsevier B.V. Terms and Conditions