ABSTRACT
Objective: Dyslipidaemia is considered a high-risk factor for inducing atherosclerosis and cardiovascular diseases (CVDs). This study aims to investigate the anti-hyperlipidemic effect of the co-administration of the ethanol extracts of both ginger (root and rhizome) and leek (leaves and bulbs) in addition to the aqueous extract of gum arabic. Methods: Rats were divided into eight groups: Hyperlipidaemia was induced in rats by a single intraperitoneal injection of Poloxamer 407 (P-407) [1 g/kg], negative control [saline injected], hyperlipidemic control [P-407 injected], positive control [Atorvastatin 70 mg/kg], groups four, five and six received ginger extract (400 mg/kg), leek extract (500 mg/kg) and gum arabic aqueous extract (7.5 g/kg) respectively and groups seven and eight received a co-administration of ginger, leek and gum arabic extracts at doses A and B respectively. Lipid profile was monitored. The profiling of all the tested extracts was performed by LC-ESI/MS and HPLC. Results: A significant anti-hyperlipidemic activity (P<0.05) was seen for group eight among all the tested groups producing ≈54%, 72%, 50% and 72% decrease in the measured parameters total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TG), low-density lipoprotein (LDL) and very-low-density lipoprotein (VLDL) respectively. An overall of 56 and 45 compounds were tentatively identified in the ethanol extracts of ginger and leek, respectively. Galactose and arabinose sugars were found to be the major saccharides in gum arabic and glucuronic acid was the major polyuronide part. Conclusion: the co-administration of a group of natural extracts in the given concentration proved to be more effective than the use of synthetic drugs or the use of a single component.
ABSTRACT
Aim: To investigate the analgesic, anti-inflammatory and ulceroprotective properties of Agave seemanniana methanolic leaf extract (MEAS) and its saponin containing fraction (SFAS), in animal models compared to standard drugs. In addition to separation and characterization of the major saponin fraction of Agave seemanniana leaves. Place and Duration of Study: The study was carried out at the Department of Pharmacognosy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Helwan University, Cairo, Egypt, between June 2011 and March 2013. Methodology: The analgesic activity was assessed using the hot plate method and aspirin being a positive standard, the anti-inflammatory activity was investigated using the standard carrageenan-induced paw edema method against indomethacin as standard and the ethanol induced ulcer was used to record the ulcer protective effect of methanolic leaf extract of Agave seemanniana (MEAS) and saponin fraction of Agave seemanniana (SFAS). Separation and characterization techniques were used for the phytochemical study of the saponin content of the extract. Results: The results of analgesic activity of MEAS and SFAS using the hot plate test, revealed significant increase in the reaction time at dose of 100mg/kg b.wt. The same dose of the two test drugs demonstrated significant ulcer protective activity. The results of anti-inflammatory activity revealed that the reduction of the carrageenan-induced paw edema was significant at a dose of 100mg/kg b.wt. Furthermore, SFAS contained mainly saponins of pregnane and furostanol types. The structures of three isolated and characterized saponins indicated that these saponins had a common oligosaccharide moiety linked to the aglycone C-3 position and identified as α-L- rhamnopyranosyl– (1→4)-β-D-glucopyranosyl-(1→2)-[β-D-xylopyranosyl-(1→3)]-β-D-glucopyranosyl- (1→4)- β-D-galactopyranosyl. Conclusion: This study contributes to the search for potent and locally available plant materials as analgesic, anti-inflammatory and ulcer protective drugs known for their high saponin content.