Antioxidant and antihyperlipidemic activity of Costus speciosus against atherogenic diet-induced hyperlipidemia in rabbits / 中西医结合学报

OBJECTIVE@#An extract of Costus speciosus (CSE), a herb widely used in folk medicine, was evaluated for its antioxidant, antihyperlipidemic and ameliorating effects on histopathological changes in atherogenic rabbits.@*METHODS@#Twenty-four male rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus) were divided into 4 groups. Three groups were fed a diet containing 3% saturated fat and 1.3% cholesterol for 40 d. One of these was sacrificed on the 40th day and was called the pathogenic (P) group; the other two groups received treatment for another 30 d as follows: one received 0.8 g/(kg·d) of CSE and the other was given 0.01 g/(kg·d) of simvastatin. The normal group was sacrificed on the 70th day and used as a control.@*RESULTS@#CSE showed radical-scavenging ability. Administration of CSE for a 30-day period resulted in a significant decrease in total cholesterol, triacylglycerol, low-density lipoprotein and aspartate aminotransferase compared to the P group, while levels of hemoglobin, packed corpuscular volume and red blood cells were elevated. With respect to studies performed on the heart, a decrease in malondialdehyde and an increase in reduced glutathione were noted. Total protein increased in the liver, heart and aorta after treatment with CSE and also a marked improvement in histopathological parameters was demonstrated.@*CONCLUSION@#The present findings indicate that the C. speciosus rhizome possesses antiatherogenic and antioxidant properties which may provide protective effects against oxidative stress in atherosclerotic rabbits.

Notes on the flora of Yemen. 1: morphological and anatomical studies on Cuscuta planiflora Tenore, [Cuscutaceae] collected from Jabal An-Nahi Shn'ayb, Sanaa, Yemen with the reference of its phytogeographical distribution

Cuscuta planiflora is a parasitic plant on numerous plants from different families such as Lamiaceae [Thymus laevigaus], Acanthaceae [Hypoectes forsskalii] and Dipsaceae [Pteracephalus frutescens]. Morphological, anatomical and phytogeographical studies were carried on the Cuscuta planiflora which was collected from Jabal An-Nabi' Shu'ahyb located 30 km west of Sanaa the capital of Yemen, with coordinates [043° 58[-]-043° 59 E and 15° 14[-]-15° 15[-] N]. the morphological study includes stem morphology and floral structure. Anatomically, the cross, lateral section of the stem and lateral section of the haustoria's area, were studied, Phytogeographical studies were done by studying its distribution in Yemen and in plant geographical regions