The potency of cowpea (Vigna unguiculata) as antioxidant agent in ovariectomized rat.

Menopause can lead to health problems such as osteoporosis, neurological and cardiovascular disease. Neurologically, Alzheimer's is caused by the accumulation of amyloid peptides that form plaques in the brain resulting in neuronal death. In addition, the incidence of osteoporosis also increases during menopause which is indicated by an increase in bone RANKL expression. Nitric Oxide (NO) is a modulator of endothelial cell permeability, which shows an association with cardiovascular diseases. Genistein in cowpea is expected to have a protective effect. The study aims to prove that cowpea can reduce brain amyloid β, bone RANKL expression, NO levels of an ovariectomized rat. Twenty-four Rattus norvegicus females were divided into a control group (SHAM), an OVX group given 17-estradiol 0.18 mg/kg BW/day, and three OVX groups given extracts 1.25, 2.5, and 5 mg/kg. BB/day for 40 days. Brain amyloid β expression was measured by immunofluorescence, bone RANKL expression was observed by immunohistochemical staining, and NO levels by colorimetry method. Cowpea extract can be used as an antioxidant agent and was shown to significantly reduce the expression of brain amyloid β (p value 0.000), bone RANKL (p value 0.006), and no significant difference for NO levels (p value 0.162) in ovariectomized rats. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]