Red Quinoa Hydrolysate as a Plant-Based Therapeutic Alternative for Damage Induced by High Cadmium Concentrations to the Vascular System in Rats

Abstract

Cadmium (Cd) is a highly toxic, non-essential element associated with cardiovascular dysfunction through oxidative stress, endothelial impairment, and inflammatory activation. Identifying plant-based dietary strategies, including quinoa, a low-cost pseudocereal with recognized bioactive properties, may offer a sustainable approach to mitigate these effects. This study aimed to characterize a bioactive red quinoa hydrolysate (RQH) and to investigate whether RQH prevents vascular damage induced by Cd exposure. Male Wistar rats were exposed to Cd with or without RQH treatment for 14 days. Co-treatment with RQH prevented the increase in SBP induced by Cd exposure. In the aorta and mesenteric resistance artery (MRA), RQH protected from increased contractile response while preserving NO bioavailability for vascular function. Additionally, RQH effectively mitigated oxidative stress and prevented the inflammatory cascade (COX-2 and TNF-alpha) resulting from Cd exposure. RQH could be used as a potential therapeutic dietary alternative for Cd-induced vascular damage. RQH exhibited antihypertensive, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory properties, protecting against Cd-induced cardiovascular dysfunction.