Hypolipidemic, antioxidant and anti-atherosclerogenic effects of aqueous extract of Zanthoxylum heitzii stem bark in diet-induced hypercholesterolemic rats
10.1016/S1995-7645(14)60344-8
- Author:
Fidele NTCHAPDA
1
;
Kakesse MAGUIRGUE
1
;
Hamadjida ADJIA
2
;
Paul Faustin Seke ETET
3
;
Théophile DIMO
4
Author Information
1. Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science, University of Ngaoundéré
2. Department of neuroscience, Faculty of Medicine, University of Montréal
3. Department of Basic Health Sciences, College of Applied Medical Sciences, Qassim University
4. Department of Animal Biology and Physiology, Faculty of Science, University of Yaoundé 1
- Publication Type:Journal Article
- Keywords:
Anti-atherosclerogenic;
Antioxidant;
Hypocholesterolemic;
Hypolipidemic;
Plant extract;
Zanthoxylum heitzii
- From:
Asian Pacific Journal of Tropical Medicine
2015;8(5):359-365
- CountryChina
- Language:Chinese
-
Abstract:
Objective: To evaluate anti-dyslipidemic, antioxidant and anti-atherosclerogenic properties of this extract in diet-induced hypercholesterolemic rat, a model of metabolic syndrome-induced atherosclerosis and associated cardiovascular diseases. Methods: Normocholesterolemic (NC) male rats were divided into six groups (n=10) and fed a high-cholesterol (HC) diet for 30 days (5 groups), or normal rat chow (normal control group). Rats given a HC diet also received distilled water (disease control), the potent hypocholesterolemic agent with anti-atherosclerotic activity atorvastatin (2 mg/kg, positive control), or one of the three doses of Zanthoxylum heitzii stem bark aqueous extract tested (225, 300 and 375 mg/kg) concomitantly for four months. Signs of general toxicity, body temperature and weight, and water and food intake were monitored in live animals. After sacrifice, lipid profiles and oxidative stress markers were assessed in the blood and liver, aorta, and feces, and histopathological analysis of aorta was performed. Results: Plant extract prevented the elevation of aortic total cholesterol and triglycerides, and hepatic low density lipoprotein, very low density lipoprotein, and total cholesterol. Lipid peroxidation (TBARS) was decreased and aortic atherosclerotic plaque formation prevented. Conclusions: These observations strongly suggest that stem bark aqueous extract of Zanthoxylum heitzii has anti-atherosclerogenic properties, at least partly mediated by antioxidant and hypolipidemic effects.
