Functional beverages based on Aronia melanocarpa affect age-related aortic wall restructuring in rats

The morphological alterations of the wall of the large arteries of elastic type, which also include the aorta, are a result of age-related restructuring and create pathophysiological prerequisites for worsening of their function and the occurrence of pathological changes. They lay at the core of many diseases, such as hypertension, dissection, aortic aneurysm and rupture of the aorta, etc. The application of natural antioxidants is one of the strategies for slowing down the vascular aging process. Aronia melanocarpa juice is a rich source of polyphenols and exhibits extremely high antioxidant activity. Enriching it with pectin and herbal extracts potentiates its effects. The aim of this experimental study was to determine the impact of various functional beverages based on Aronia melanocarpa on the age-related structural alterations in the aortic wall in rats. Methods: A model of aging male rats was used (12 months old). It was supplemented for 3 months with 100% Aronia melanocarpa juice (А), Aronia melanocarpa juice enriched with 1% pectin (А+Р) and Aronia melanocarpa juice enriched with herbal extracts (А+I). At the end of the experiment a histochemical and morphometric examination of the wall of the thoracic aorta was performed. The following parameters were measured and processed statistically: thickness of tunica media, number and thickness of the elastic membranes, and width of intermembrane spaces. Results: The comparative analysis between the groups established that in the animals supplemented with 100% Aronia juice the elastic membranes of the aortic tunica media were the thickest and the intermembrane space of the group А+I was the narrowest. The collected data suggests that Aronia melanocarpa -based functional beverages affect some of the age-related alterations in the vascular wall and may be recommended as a prophylactic means to healthy aging.