Preclinical Evaluation of the Antihypertensive Potential of Etcho (Pachycereus pecten-aboriginum) Fruit Juice using In Silico, In Vitro, and In Vivo Approaches.

Hypertension is a highly prevalent condition worldwide and a major risk factor for chronic cardiovascular diseases. Consumption of betalain-rich foods, such as beets and prickly pears, has been reported to reduce blood pressure, oxidative stress, and cholesterol levels in subjects at atherogenic risk. The columnar cactus Pachycereus pecten-aboriginum, known as “Etcho,” is an endemic Mexican plant that produces fruits rich in betalains. This study aimed to evaluate the antihypertensive potential of Etcho (Pachycereus pecten-aboriginum) fruit juice using in silico, in vitro, and in vivo approaches. High-resolution mass spectrometry was used to characterize the betalain profile of Etcho fruit juice. The potential interactions of the juice’s betalain with angiotensin-converting enzyme I (ACE-I), renin, and the angiotensin II receptor type 1 (AT1R) were evaluated in silico. The ACE-I inhibitory activity and antihypertensive potential of the juice were evaluated in vitro and in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRs), respectively. Our results show that Etcho fruit juice contains compounds (betanin, indicaxanthin, and phyllocactin) predicted to interact with ACE-I (binding energy (BE) from − 7.6 to -10.0), renin (BE from − 7.1 to -9.1), and AT1R (BE from − 7.3 to -9.6) via hydrogen bonds and hydrophobic interactions. Furthermore, the juice showed ACE-I inhibitory activity in vitro and reduced systolic and diastolic blood pressure in SHRs after intragastric administration, compared with water. These findings indicate that Etcho fruit juice is a source of bioactive betalains and has antihypertensive effects, supporting its potential as a functional food ingredient.