Control group Cholesterol-fed non-treated group Cholesterol-fed aliskiren-treated group Glutathione peroxidase Unita/mg tissue protein 14.22 ± 2.3 0.34 ± 0.03* 12.39 ± 0.34** Catalase Unitb/mg tissue protein 63.25 ± 4.5 2.43 ± 0.22* 60.55 ± 3.5** a= μg of glutathione consumed per minute. b= Moles of hydrogen peroxide consumed per minute. *p < 0.05, significant reduction in activity of both enzymes in cholesterol-fed nontreated group versus control group. **p< 0.05, significant increase in activity of both enzymes by treatment with aliskiren versus cholesterol-fed non-treated group. A significant (p < 0.05) decrease in the activities of these enzymes was demonstrated in cholesterol-fed non-treated rats. Aliskiren-treated group showed a significant (p < 0.05) increase in their activities compared to cholesterol-fed non-treated group. These findings could support the suggestion that aliskiren, as a DRI, would provide a possible aortic protective effect in cholesterol-fed rats most probably by its antioxidant action.

Table 2: Mean ± SD changes in the activities of aortic CAT, GPx in rats of all tested groups expressed as unit/mg tissue protein of aortic homogenates.