Does Argan Oil Supplementation Affect Metabolic Parameters and Behavior in Wistar Rats?

Rim Bousalham¹, Laila Jahidi Rhazali², Amal Harmouch², Hamid Lotfi³, Bouchra Benazzouz¹, Aboubaker El Hessni¹, Ali Ouichou¹, Omar Akhouayri¹, Abdelhalem Mesfioui¹

¹Laboratory of Genetic, Neuroendocrinology and Biotechnology, Faculty of Sciences, Ibn Tofail University, Kenitra, Morocco.
²Laboratory RHAZALI of Pathological Anatomy, Kenitra, Morocco.
³Laboratory DHL of Biomedical Analysis, Kenitra, Morocco.

DOI: 10.4236/fns.2015.69085                

Abstract

Argan oil is renowned for its particular biochemical profile: high-fat oleic and linoleic acids, tocopherols, sterols, polyphenols. This composition gives it nutritional, therapeutic and preventive properties against dermatological, metabolic and proliferative diseases. The composition of argan oil assigns its benefits to mental health; it would be provided with possible effects on the prevention and/or cure of stress related disorder. This work aims to evaluate the impact of argan oil dietary on the behavioral response, biochemical and hematological constants and histological profiles of adrenal involved in emotional responses to stress. The variation of these parameters was evaluated in Wistar rats receiving dietary 10 ml/Kg/day of argan oil, starting from weaning, for 13 weeks. Our results show that supplementation has resulted in an increase in locomotor activity, reduced sensitivity to frightening environments with sex dependent variation. Moreover, lipid markers, corticosterone and lymphocytes show a rising trend. If the important role of argan oil diet in cardio-metabolic health is generally well recognized; for mental health, it is the first study that needs further investigation linking between the nervous system, inflammation parameters and metabolism.

Keywords

Argan Oil, Supplementation, Wistar Rats, Biochemical Profile, Hematological Profile, Behavioral Tests, Histological Study, Stress Related Disorders, Epigenetic

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

References

[1]	Boukhobza, M. and Pichon-Prun, N. (1988) L’arganier ressource économique et medicinale pour le Maroc. Phytothérapie, 27, 21-26.
[2]	Drissi, A., Girona, J., Cherki, M., Godas, G., Derouiche, A. and El Messal, M. (2004) Evidence of Hypolipemiant and Antioxidant Properties of Argan Oil Derived from the Argan Tree (Arganiaspinosa). Clinical Nutrition, 23, 1159-1166. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.clnu.2004.03.003
[3]	Chimi, H., Cillard, J. and Cillard, P. (1994) Autoxydation dec l’huile d’argan (Argania spinosa) sapotaceae du Maroc. Sciences des Aliments, 14, 117-24.
[4]	Berrougui, H., De Sotomayor, M.A., Perez-Guerrero, C., Ettaib, A., Hmamouchi, M., Marhuenda, E. and Herrera, M.D. (2004) Argan (Arganiaspinosa) Oil Lowers Blood Pressure and Improves Endothelial Dysfunction in Spontaneously Hypertensive Rats. British Journal of Nutrition, 92, 921- 929. http://dx.doi.org/10.1079/BJN20041293
[5]	Bennani, H., Drissi, A., Giton, F., Kheuang , L., Fiet, J. and Adlouni, A. (2007) Antiproliferative Effect of Polyphenols and Sterols of Virgin Argan Oil on Human Prostate Cancer Cell Lines. Cancer Detection and Prevention, 31, 64-69. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.cdp.2006.09.006
[6]	El Monfalouti, H., Guillaume, D., Denhez, C. and Charrouf, Z. (2010) Therapeutic Potential of Argan Oil: A Review. Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmacology, 62, 1669-1675. http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.2042-7158.2010.01190.x
[7]	Sable, P., Dangat, K., Kale, A. and Joshi, S. (2011) Altered Brain Neurotrophins at Birth: Consequence of Imbalance in Maternal Folic Acid and Vitamin B12 Metabolism. Neuroscience, 190, 127-134. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.neuroscience.2011.05.010
[8]	Vijay-Kumar, M., Vanegas, S.M., Patel, N., Aitken, J.D., Ziegler, T.R. and Ganji, V. (2011) Fish Oil Rich Diet in Comparison to Saturated Fat Rich Diet Offered Protection against Lipopolysaccharide-Induced Inflammation and Insulin Resistance in Mice. Nutrition Metabolism, 8, 16. http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/1743-7075-8-16
[9]	Bouayed, J. (2010) Polyphenols: A Potential New Strategy for the Prevention and Treatment of Anxiety and Depression. Current Nutrition & Food Science, 6, 13-18. http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/1743-7075-8-16
[10]	Mekhfi, H., Belmekki, F., Ziyyat, A., Legssyer, A., Bnouham, M. and Aziz, M. (2012) Antithrombotic Activity of Argan Oil: An in Vivo Experimental Study. Nutrition, 28, 937-941. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.nut.2011.11.032
[11]	Durand, M., Berton, O., Aguere, S., Edno, L., Combourieu, I., Mormede, P. and Chaouloff, F. (1999) Effects of Repeated Fluoxetine on Anxiety Related Behaviours, Central Serotonergic Systems, and the Corticotropic Axis in SHR and WKY Rats. Neuropharmacology, 38, 893-907. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S0028-3908(99)00009-X
[12]	Nasselo, A.G., Machado, C., Bastos, J.F. and Felicio, L. (1998) Sudden Darkness Induces a High Activity-Low Anxiety State in Male and Female Rats. Physiology & Behavior, 63, 451-454. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S0031-9384(97)00462-9
[13]	Meyer, L., Caston, J. and Mensah-Nyagan, A. (2006) Seasonal Variation of the Impact of a Stressful Procedure on Open Field Behaviour and Blood Corticosterone in Laboratory Mice. Behavioural Brain Research, 167, 342-348. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.bbr.2005.09.023
[14]	Clenet, F., Bouyon, E., Hasco, M. and Bourin, M. (2006) Light/Dark Cycle Manipulation Influences Mice Behavior in the Elevated Plus Maze. Behavioural Brain Research, 166, 140-149. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.bbr.2005.07.018
[15]	Pellow, S., Chopin, P., File, S.E. and Briley, M. (1985) Validation of Open: Closed Arms Entries in an Elevated Plus-Maze as a Measure of Anxiety in the Rat. Journal of Neuroscience Methods, 14, 149-167. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/0165-0270(85)90031-7
[16]	Porsolt, R.D., Anton, G., Blavet, N. and Jalfre, M. (1978) Behavioural Despair in Rats: A New Model Sensitive to Antidepressant Treatments. European Journal of Pharmacology, 47, 379-391. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/0014-2999(78)90118-8
[17]	Woo, S., Krzyzanski, W. and Jusko, W.J. (2008) Pharmacodynamic Model for Chemotherapy-Induced Anemia in Rats. Cancer Chemotherapy and Pharmacology, 62, 123-133. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00280-007-0582-9
[18]	Link, A., Balaguer, F. and Goel, A. (2010) Cancer Chemoprevention by Dietary Polyphenols: Promising Role for Epigenetics. Biochemical Pharmacology, 80, 1771-1792. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.bcp.2010.06.036
[19]	Cherki, M., Berrougui, H., Drissi, A., Adlouni, A. and Khalil, A. (2006) Argan Oil: Which Benefits on Cardiovascular Diseases? Pharmacological Research, 54, 1-5. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.phrs.2006.02.004
[20]	Parletta, N., Milte, C.M. and Meyer, B.J. (2013) Nutritional Modulation of Cognitive Function and Mental Health. Journal of Nutritional Biochemistry, 24, 725-743. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jnutbio.2013.01.002
[21]	Denis, I., Potier, B., Vancassel, S., Heberden, C. and Lavialle, M. (2013) Omega-3 Fatty Acids and Brain Resistance to Ageing and Stress: Body of Evidence and Possible Mechanisms. Ageing Research Reviews, 12, 579-594. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.arr.2013.01.007
[22]	Anderson, G.H. (1981) Diet, Neurotransmitters and Brain Function. British Medical Bulletin, 37, 95-100.
[23]	Futerman, A.H. and Banker, G.A. (1996) The Economics of Neurite Outgrowth—The Addition of New Membrane to Growing Axons. Trends in Neurosciences, 19, 144-149. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S0166-2236(96)80025-7
[24]	Nealon, J.R., Blanksby, S.J., Mitchell, T.W. and Else, P.L. (2008) Systematic Differences in Membrane Acyl Composition Associated with Varying Body Mass in Mammals Occur in All Phospholipid Classes: An Analysis of Kidney and Brain. The Journal of Experimental Biology, 211, 3195-204. http://dx.doi.org/10.1242/jeb.019968
[25]	Ledesma, M.D., Martin, M.G. and Dotti, C.G. (2012) Lipid Changes in the Aged Brain: Effect on Synaptic Function and Neuronal Survival. Progress in Lipid Research, 51, 23-35. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.plipres.2011.11.004
[26]	Liperoti, R., Landi, F., Fusco, O., Bernabei, R. and Onder, G. (2009) Omega-3 Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids and Depression: A Review of the Evidence. Current Pharmaceutical Design, 15, 4165-4172. http://dx.doi.org/10.2174/138161209789909683
[27]	Herrick, E.H., Lockhart, C.H., Martin, E.P. and Nusser, W.L. (1954) Influence of Sex Hormones on Blood Cell Counts and Hemoglobin Levels in Fowls. Transactions of the Kansas Academy of Science, 57, 483-492. http://dx.doi.org/10.2307/3625933
[28]	Whitfield, J.B. and Martin, N.G. (1985) Genetic and Environmental Influences on the Size and Number of Cells in the Blood Genetic. Epidemiology, 2, 133-144.
[29]	Benzaria, A., Meskini, N., Dubois, M., Croset, M., Némoz, G., Lagarde, M. and Prigent, A.F. (2006) Effect of Dietary Argan Oil on Fatty Acid Composition, Proliferation, and Phospholipase D Activity of Rat Thymocytes. Nutrition, 22, 628-637. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.nut.2006.03.001
[30]	Guerrero-Bosagna, C.M. and Skinner, M.K. (2014) Environmental Epigenetics and Phytoestrogen/Phytochemical Exposures. Journal of Steroid Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, 139, 270-276. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jsbmb.2012.12.011