AQP1, Aquaporin 1, Bacopa Monnieri, Bacopaside II, Cardiovascular Diseases, Endothelial Dysfunction, Oxidative Stress
Conditions
Keywords
vascular oxidative stress, aquaporin 1, AQP1, hydrogen peroxide, cardiovascular diseases, Bacopa monnieri, Bacopaside II, endothelial dysfunction
Brief summary
Bacoxy\_I study aims to evaluate the efficacy of a standardized Bacopa monnieri extract, Bacopa-400®, on vascular oxidative stress.
Detailed description
The Bacopa-400® is a standardized extract of a plant called Bacopa Monnieri, which mainly grows in India and neighboring countries. The virtues of this plant, also called Brahmi, have been used in Ayurvedic medicine for millennia in the treatment of chronic neurological diseases accompanied by cognitive impairment and memory disorders, as well as for stress management. Several companies have subsequently improved the preparation of standardized extracts of Bacopa Monnieri. Bacopa-400® from the Belgian firm Deba Pharma™ was selected because it adheres to good manufacturing practices (GMP). Currently, there are over 289 studies listed regarding the positive role of Bacopa monnieri in cognitive functions in both young and elderly subjects. Furthermore, no major side effects have been reported following the use of this plant extract in acute or chronic administration in hundreds of people of all ages. Bacopa monnieri plant contains several bacosides, including the Bacopaside II a specific inhibitor of the water channel Aquaporin 1 (AQP1). AQP1 is part of the aquaporin family responsible for bidirectional transmembrane water transport. It is the most abundant aquaporin in mammalian cardiovascular tissue, present in myocardial cells, endothelial cells, and red blood cells. AQP1, more than a water channel, is also a peroxiporin able to facilitate the passage of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), involved in oxidative stress. In previous work, the Pharmacology and Therapeutics (FATH) department from UCLouvain (Brussels) discovered the protective effect of Bacopaside II on cardiovascular oxidative stress. Through a series of experiments, it was demonstrated that Bacopaside II dose dependently attenuates the passage of H2O2 into cardiac myocytes, thus preventing hypertrophy induced by neurohormones. Additionally, in murine models, oral administration of Bacopa monnieri extract attenuated cardiac hypertrophy triggered by hypertrophic stimuli. This cardiac protection occurs through inhibition of AQP1. Based on this premises, a clinical investigation was undertaken to explore the potential of Bacopa-400® in attenuating vascular oxidative stress among healthy volunteers. This interventional, open-label and monocentric comprised two groups. Group A received a daily dose of 400 mg and Group B a daily dose of 800 mg over a 6-week period, followed by a 4-week observation period after the cessation of treatment. The primary objective of this study was to assess the impact of Bacopa-400® on oxidative stress in healthy individuals and determine the optimal dosage for maximal efficacy. Furthermore, the study analyzed the incidence, severity, and frequency of adverse events, including suspected unexpected serious adverse events (SUSAR).
Interventions
DIETARY_SUPPLEMENTBacopa monnieri
Daily oral intake of Bacopa monnieri during 6 weeks
Sponsors
Cliniques universitaires Saint-Luc- Université Catholique de Louvain
Study design
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
PREVENTION
Masking
NONE
Intervention model description
Group A (n=10): 400mg/d of Bacopa monnieri Broup B (n=10): 800 mg/d of Bacopa monnieri
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
18 Years to No maximum
Healthy volunteers
Yes
Inclusion criteria
* Healthy volunteers * Effective contraception
Exclusion criteria
* Any chronic disease * Any chronic use of drug * Pregnancy and breast feeding * Gastro-intestinal diseases (e.g. ulcer, gastro-oesophageal reflux, lactose intolerance)
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Ex vivo DCFDA test on red blood cells (RBCs) | Baseline (V0), 2 weeks (V2), 6 weeks (V4), 10 weeks (V6) | DCFA (dichlorofluorescein diacetate) is a probe used to assess the presence of intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS). Red blood cells are incubated with DCFA and extracellular hydrogen peroxide (H2O2). After passive diffusion into the cells and upon encountering ROS, DCFDA undergoes conversion to produce a highly fluorescent compound, the DCF (2',7'-Dichlorofluorescein). This resulting fluorescence intensity (arbitrary unit) was quantified using FACS. This technique allowed us to measure kinetically the entry of ROS as H2O2 in RBCs. |
| Plasma lipid peroxydes | Baseline (V0), 2 weeks (V2), 6 weeks (V4), 10 weeks (V6) | Lipid peroxidation (µM) is a form of oxidative damage that impacts cellular membranes, lipoproteins, and other lipid-containing molecules under conditions of oxidative stress. Assessing changes in lipid peroxide levels during the study served as a reflection of oxidative status. Plasma lipid peroxides were quantified using a colorimetric test using the 3,3',5,5'-tetramethylbenzidine (TMB). |
| Methemoglobin in red blood cells | Baseline (V0), 6 weeks (V4), 10 weeks (V6) | Methemoglobin is the oxidized form of hemoglobin, where the iron atom in the heme group is oxidized from the ferrous to the ferric state. Exposure to oxidative stress can lead to the formation of methemoglobin making the latter a biomarker of vascular oxidative stress. Methemoglobin levels (arbitrary unit) were measured by electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy. |
| Nitrosylated hemoglobin (HbNO) in red blood cells | Baseline (V0), 6 weeks (V4), 10 weeks (V6) | Vascular oxidative stress is involved in the decreased of nitric oxide (NO) bioavailability. Erythrocyte 5-α-coordinate nitrosyl-hemoglobin or nitrosylated hemoglobin (HbNO) is a complexe between NO and deoxyhemoglobin serving as a marker for NO bioavailability. HbNO levels (nM) were quantified using electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy |
Secondary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Potassium | Baseline (V0), 2 weeks (V2), 6 weeks (V4), 10 weeks (V6) | Potassium (mM) is part of ion count. Electrolyte concentrations were evaluated to monitor the impact of Bacopa monnieri's diuretic effect on blood ion levels. |
| Bicarbonate | Baseline (V0), 2 weeks (V2), 6 weeks (V4), 10 weeks (V6) | Bicarbonate (mM) is part of ion count. Electrolyte concentrations were evaluated to monitor the impact of Bacopa monnieri's diuretic effect on blood ion levels. |
| Total cholesterol | Baseline (V0), 2 weeks (V2), 6 weeks (V4), 10 weeks (V6) | Total cholesterol (mg/dL) is part of the lipogram, to assess the effect of oral intake of Bacopa monnieri on the lipid metabolism. |
| High-Density Lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol | Baseline (V0), 2 weeks (V2), 6 weeks (V4), 10 weeks (V6) | HDL cholesterol (mg/dL), is part of the lipogram, to assess the effect of oral intake of Bacopa monnieri on the lipid metabolism. |
| Low-Density Lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol | Baseline (V0), 2 weeks (V2), 6 weeks (V4), 10 weeks (V6) | LDL cholesterol (mg/dL) is part of the lipogram, to assess the effect of oral intake of Bacopa monnieri on the lipid metabolism. |
| haemoglobin | Baseline (V0), 2 weeks (V2), 6 weeks (V4), 10 weeks (V6) | The haemoglobin (g/L) is part of hemogram, a quantitative and qualitative analysis of blood constituents. This test was performed to reiterate the known safety of Bacopa monnieri on the systemic circulation after oral ingestion. |
| aspartate aminotransferase (ASAT), (U/L) | Baseline (V0), 2 weeks (V2), 6 weeks (V4), 10 weeks (V6) | ASAT (U/L) was assessed to evaluate the safety of Bacopa monnieri on liver function following oral intake. |
| alanine aminotransferase (ALAT) (U/L) | Baseline (V0), 2 weeks (V2), 6 weeks (V4), 10 weeks (V6) | ALAT (U/L) was assessed to evaluate the safety of Bacopa monnieri on liver function following oral intake. |
| gamma-glutamyl-transferase (GGT) level | Baseline (V0), 2 weeks (V2), 6 weeks (V4), 10 weeks (V6) | GGT (U/L) was assessed to evaluate the safety of Bacopa monnieri on liver function following oral intake |
| Creatinine | Baseline (V0), 2 weeks (V2), 6 weeks (V4), 10 weeks (V6) | Creatinine (mg/dl) was measured to assess the impact of oral intake of Bacopa monnieri on renal function. |
| Glomerular filtration rate | Baseline (V0), 2 weeks (V2), 6 weeks (V4), 10 weeks (V6) | Glomerular filtration rate (ml/min/m²) was measured to assess the impact of oral intake of Bacopa monnieri on renal function. |
| Triglycerides | Baseline (V0), 2 weeks (V2), 6 weeks (V4), 10 weeks (V6) | Triglycerides (mg/dL) is part of the lipogram, to assess the effect of oral intake of Bacopa monnieri on the lipid metabolism. |
| haematocrit | Baseline (V0), 2 weeks (V2), 6 weeks (V4), 10 weeks (V6) | The haematocrit (g/L) is part of hemogram, a quantitative and qualitative analysis of blood constituents. This test was performed to reiterate the known safety of Bacopa monnieri on the systemic circulation after oral ingestion. |
| Red blood cells count | Baseline (V0), 2 weeks (V2), 6 weeks (V4), 10 weeks (V6) | The red blood cells count (10\^6/µL) is part of hemogram, a quantitative and qualitative analysis of blood constituents. This test was performed to reiterate the known safety of Bacopa monnieri on the systemic circulation after oral ingestion. |
| Sodium | Baseline (V0), 2 weeks (V2), 6 weeks (V4), 10 weeks (V6) | Sodium (mM) is part of ion count. Electrolyte concentrations were evaluated to monitor the impact of Bacopa monnieri's diuretic effect on blood ion levels. |
Countries
Belgium
Outcome results
None listed