Effect of Cinnamon (Cinnamomum cassia) as a Lipid Lowering Agent on Hypercholesterolemic Rats.

Background: Dyslipidemia is one of the important causes of cardiovascular disease related mortality and morbidity. Recently it has become a significant issue in public health problem of developing countries. The purpose of the study was to find a suitable solution for reducing blood lipid in dyslipidemic patients by conducting a research on the effect of cinnamon in hypercholesterolemic rats. Objective: To study the lipid lowering effect of Cinnamomum cassia on experimentally induced hypercholesterolemic rats. Materials and Methods: This study was done on 30 male Long Evans rats weighing about 200--210 gram. For convenience, the study was divided into two experiments --- Experiment I and Experiment II. In experiment I, 12 animals were divided into two groups. One was Group A (n = 6, control group) fed on laboratory diet and the other was Group B (n = 6) fed on laboratory diet and cinnamon for 35 days. In experiment II, the remaining 18 rats were fed fatty mixture diet containing 1% cholesterol and 0.25% cholic acid. The hypercholesterolemic rats were then divided into 3 groups, Group C, D, and E (n=6 in each group). Group D and Group E were additionally fed on cinnamon powder and tablet atorvastatin for 35 days respectively. Serum TC, TG, LDL-C and HDL-C were measured after 35 days. Results: Fatty mixture diet increased TG, TC and LDL-C significantly. Cinnamon treated fatty mixture diet group showed that Cinnamomum cassia decreased plasma TC, TG and LDL-C. Atorvastatin therapy decreased TC, TG and LDL-C levels significantly compared with the lowering effect of cinnamon. Conclusion: The results of this experimental study indicate that Cinnamomum cassia can act as a hypocholesterolemic agent and thereby can improve cardiovascular functions.

Efecto del consumo de dietas con frijol blanco (Vigna unguiculata) con y sin cáscara sobre los lípidos plasmáticos en ratas hipercolesterolémicas / Effect of consumption of diets with cowpea (Vigna unguiculata) with and without hull on plasma lipids in hypercholesterolemic rats

Las leguminosas constituyen un componente importante de la dieta regular del venezolano. Algunos estudios han demostrado que los granos de varias leguminosas tienen un efecto hipocolesterolémico. En este estudio se evaluó el efecto del consumo de frijol blanco Vigna unguiculata con y sin cáscara sobre los lípidos plasmáticas en ratas hipercolesterolémicas. Treinta ratas machos adultas, cepa Sprague Dawley, fueron estudiadas en dos etapas. Una primera de tres semanas en la que mediante manipulación dietética, se transformaron ratas normales en hipercolesterolémicas. En la segunda etapa se diseñaron 4 grupos, un control normocolesterolémico sin dieta experimental, un hipercolesterolémico sin dieta experimental, un hipercolesterolémico alimentado con frijol con cáscara y uno hipercolesterolémico alimentado con frijol sin cáscara durante tres semanas. Las dietas con frijol blanco Vigna unguiculata produjeron una disminución significativa de colesterol total y triglicéridos de un 35.01% y 39.48% respectivamente, en comparación con el grupo hipercolesterolémico sin frijol. Para la fracción del colesterol-LDL la disminución fue de 59%, sin encontrarse diferencias significativas entre los grupos alimentados con frijol con y sin cáscara. Un hallazgo interesante fue el incremento significativo del colesterol-HDL de 29.66% en el grupo alimentado con frijol con cáscara, lo cual es un factor de prevención para la aparición de Enfermedades Cardiovasculares. Los resultados de este estudio señalan que el consumo de frijol blanco con o sin cáscara tuvo efecto beneficioso en el perfil lipídico, en este modelo experimental. En estudios futuros podría considerarse su uso en la dietoterapia de las hiperlipidemias.

Legumes are important components of Venezuelan diet. Several studies have shown that grains of legumes have a hypocholesterolemic effect. This study evaluated the effect of consumption of white beans Vigna unguiculata with and without hull on plasma lipids in hypercholesterolemic rats. Thirty adult male Sprague-Dawley rats, were studied in two stages. The first of three weeks, by means of dietary manipulation, normal rats became hypercholesterolemic. In the second stage, 4 groups were designed, one normocholesterolemic control without experimental diet, one hypercholesterolemic without experimental diet, one hypercholesterolemic fed with bean with hull and one hypercholesterolemic fed with bean without hull for three weeks. Diets with white beans Vigna unguiculata produced a significant decrease in total cholesterol and triglycerides of 35.01% and 39.48% respectively, compared with the hypercholesterolemic group without beans. The fraction of LDL-cholesterol showed a reduction of 59%, without significant differences between the groups fed with beans with and without hull. An interesting finding was the significant increase of HDL-cholesterol of 29.66% in the group fed with bean with hull, which is a preventive factor for cardiovascular diseases. The results of this study indicate that consumption of white beans with or without hull had beneficial effect on lipid profile, in this experimental model. In future studies it could be considered for using in diet therapy of human hyperlipidemia.

Appraisal of Antihyperlipidemic Activities of Lentinus lepideus in Hypercholesterolemic Rats

The wild edible mushroom, Lentinus lepideus has recently been cultivated for commercial use in Korea. While the mushroom has been widely used for nutritional and medicinal purposes, the possible anti-hyperlipidemic action is unclear. The effects of dietary L. lepideus on plasma and feces biochemical and on the liver histological status were investigated in hypercholesterolemic rats. Six-wk-old female Sprague-Dawley albino rats were divided into three groups of 10 rats each. Biochemical and histological examinations were performed. A diet containing 5% L. lepideus fruiting bodies reduced plasma total cholesterol, triglyceride, low-density lipoprotein, total lipid, phospholipids, and the ratio of low-density to high-density lipoprotein. Body weight was reduced. The diet did not adversely affect plasma biochemical and enzyme profiles. L. lepideus reduced significantly plasma beta- and pre-beta-lipoprotein, while alpha-lipoprotein content was increased. A histological study of hepatic cells by conventional hematoxylin-eosin and oil red O staining revealed normal findings for mushroom-fed hypercholesterolemic rats. The present study suggests that a diet supplemented with L. lepideus can provide health benefits by acting on the atherogenic lipid profile in hypercholesterolemic rats.

Antihyperlipidemic Effect of Dietary Lentinus edodes on Plasma, Feces and Hepatic Tissues in Hypercholesterolemic Rats

We investigated diet supplementation with shiitake mushroom fruiting bodies on biochemical and histological changes in hypercholesterolemic rats. Six-wk old female Sprague-Dawley albino rats were divided into three groups of 10 rats each. A diet containing 5% Lentinus edodes fruiting bodies given to hypercholesterolemic rats reduced plasma total cholesterol, triglyceride, low-density lipoprotein (LDL), total lipid, phospholipids, and the LDL/high-density lipoprotein ratio by 34.33, 53.21, 75.00, 34.66, 25.73, and 71.43%, respectively. Feeding mushroom also significantly reduced body weight in hypercholesterolemic rats. However, it had no detrimental effects on plasma albumin, total bilirubin, direct bilirubin, creatinine, blood urea nitrogen, uric acid, glucose, total protein, calcium, sodium, potassium, chloride, inorganic phosphate, magnesium, or enzyme profiles. Feeding mushroom increased total lipid and cholesterol excretion in feces. The plasma lipoprotein fraction, separated by agarose gel electrophoresis, indicated that L. edodes significantly reduced plasma beta and pre-beta-lipoprotein but increased alpha-lipoprotein. A histological study of hepatic cells by conventional hematoxylin-eosin and oil red-O staining showed normal findings for mushroom-fed hypercholesterolemic rats. These results suggest that shiitake mushrooms could be recommended as a natural cholesterol lowering substance in the diet.

Hypolipidemic Activities of Dietary Pleurotus ostreatus in Hypercholesterolemic Rats

This work was conducted to investigate dietary supplementation of oyster mushroom fruiting bodies on biochemical and histological changes in hyper and normocholesterolemic rats. Six-week old female Sprague-Dawley albino rats were divided into three groups of 10 rats each. Feeding a diet containing a 5% powder of Pleurotus ostreatus fruiting bodies to hypercholesterolemic rats reduced plasma total cholesterol, triglyceride, low-density lipoprotein (LDL), total lipid, phospholipids, and LDL/high-density lipoprotein ratio by 30.18, 52.75, 59.62, 34.15, 23.89, and 50%, respectively. Feeding oyster mushrooms also significantly reduced body weight in hypercholesterolemic rats. However, it had no adverse effects on plasma albumin, total bilirubin, direct bilirubin, creatinin, blood urea nitrogen, uric acid, glucose, total protein, calcium, sodium, potassium, chloride, inorganic phosphate, magnesium, or enzyme profiles. Feeding mushroom increased total lipid and cholesterol excretion in feces. The plasma lipoprotein fraction, separated by agarose gel electrophoresis, indicated that P. ostreatus significantly reduced plasma beta and pre-beta-lipoprotein but increased alpha-lipoprotein. A histological study of hepatic cells by conventional hematoxylin-eosin and oil red O staining revealed normal findings for mushroom-fed hypercholesterolemic rats. These results suggest that a 5% P. ostreatus diet supplement provided health benefits by acting on the atherogenic lipid profile in hypercholesterolemic rats.

Comparative Effects of Oyster Mushrooms on Lipid Profile, Liver and Kidney Function in Hypercholesterolemic Rats

Comparative effects of oyster mushrooms on plasma and fecal lipid profiles and on liver and kidney function were evaluated in hyper and normocholesterolemic rats. Feeding of hypercholesterolemic rats a 5% powder of oyster mushrooms (Pleurotus ostreatus, P. sajor-caju and P. florida) reduced the plasma total cholesterol level by 37%, 21% and 16%, respectively and reduced the triglyceride level by 45%, 24% and 14%, respectively. LDL/HDL ratio decreased by 64%, 45% and 41% for P. sajor-caju, P. ostreatus and P. florida fed rats, respectively. Mushroom feeding also reduced body weight in hypercholesterolemic rats. However, it had no adverse effect on plasma bilirubin, creatinin and urea nitrogen level. Mushroom feeding also increased the total lipid and cholesterol excretion in the feces. The present study reveals that feeding of 5% oyster mushroom powder does not have detrimental effects on the liver and kidneys rather may provide health benefits for the cardiovascular-related complication by decreasing the atherogenic lipid profiles.

Effect of onion and beet on plasma and liver lipids, platelet aggregation, and erythrocyte Na efflux in simvastatin treated hypercholesterolmic rats

This study was purposed to investigate the effect of onion or beet on plasma and liver lipids, erythrocyte Na efflux channels and platelet aggregation in simvastatin (SIM) treated hypercholesterolemic rats. Forty Sprague Dawley rats were divided into four groups and fed 0.5% cholesterol based diets containing 2 mg/kg BW simvastatin or simvastatin with 5% onion or beet powder. Plasma total cholesterol was significantly increased in SIM group compared with the control (p<0.01), and the elevated plasma total cholesterol of SIM group was significantly decreased in SIM-onion and SIM-beet groups (p<0.05). HDL-cholesterol in SIM-beet group was significantly increased compared with other groups (p<0.05). Platelet aggregation in both the maximum and initial slope was significantly decreased in SIM group compared with SIM-onion group (p<0.05). Na-K ATPase was significantly decreased in SIM group compared with the control, SIM-onion and SIM-beet groups (p<0.05). Na passive leak was significantly increased in all groups treated with SIM compared with the control (p<0.05). The total Na efflux was decreased in SIM group and increased in SIM-onion group and the difference between these two groups was significant (p<0.05). There was no difference in intracellular Na among groups. In present study, simvastatin, a HMG CoA reductase inhibitor at dose of 2mg/kg BW/day rather increased plasma total cholesterol in rats, inferring that the action mechanism of simvastatin on cholesterol metabolism differ between rat and human. Onion and beet play favorable roles in cardiovascular system by restoring the reduced Na efflux through Na-K ATPase and Na-K cotransport in SIM treated rats.