An assessment of the potential of defatted walnut powder extract against hyperlipidemia-intensified L-arginine-induced acute pancreatitis

Walnut kernel, the mature seed of Juglans regia L. recorded in the 2020 edition of the Chinese Pharmacopoeia, is a functional food riched in nutrients. Defatted walnut powder extract (DWPE), the residues of walnut kernel extracted for oil, has the effect on hypertriglyceridemia. However, the extract role and mechanism of it in hyperlipidemic acute pancreatitis research have not been elucidated. Thus, this paper aimed at exploring whether it could alleviate hyperlipidemic acute pancreatitis and further demonstrating the underlying mechanisms. The model was established by high-fat diet and intraperitoneal injection of L-arginine. After treatment with DWPE, the levels of total cholesterol, triglyceride, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol of rats were significantly decreased when compared with model group. In addition, on the basis of hyperlipidemia-intensified L-arginine-induced accelerated blood lipid levels in rats, DWPE notably attenuated the pancreatic and hepatic pathological lesions. Furthermore, the levels of amylase, lipase and TNF-α were markedly decreased in the medication administration group. Therefore, DWPE would have a preventive effect on the progress of hyperlipidemic acute pancreatitis to a certain extent through reducing pancreatic cell injury, pancreatic oxidative stress level, and the levels of pancreatic digestive enzymes and inflammatory factors.