prophylactic effect of some natural antioxidant sources against hyperlipidemia in albino rats

ABSTRACT

The aim of this investigation was to study the effect of different natural antioxidants on hyperlipaemia in albino rats. To achieve this goal, 112 rats were used in order to study the prophylactic effect of wheat germ oil [W. G.O], rosemary [RM] and evening primrose oil [E.P.R] against hyperlipaemia. Rats were randomly divided into equal 7 groups [16 rats per each]. The first group was fed on standard normal diet, the second on hyperlipaemic diet [10% hydrogenated fat and 1% cholesterol] and the other groups [from the third to the seventh] received hyperlipaemic diet plus the following antioxidants W.G.O, RM, E.P.R, [W.G.O + E.P.R] and [RM + E.P.R], respectively. The experiment lasted for 8 weeks through which blood were collected at 0 time, 4 and 8 weeks. Every two samples were pooled together and served as one sample. W.G.O was administered to rats in a dose equivalent to 90 mg/kg b.w and added to the diet. RM and EPR were added in doses equivalent to 550 mg/kg b.w, and 360 mg/kg b.w., respectively. In general, the serum level of total lipids, triglycerides, cholesterol, malondialdehyde and the activities of alanine and aspartate aminotransferases, alkaline phosphatase and superoxide dismutase were significantly [P <0.01] increased in rats fed on hyperlipaemic diet. On the contrary, total proteins, globulin and reduced glutathione [GSH] were significantly [P < 0.01] decreased compared with the rat control group. From the data obtained, it could be deduced that all of the three antioxidants and their mixture had a remarkable ameliorative effect against hyperlipaemia. The effect of E.P.R was more pronounced than W.G.O and RM