ABSTRACT
The present study was designed to explore the possible antioxidant and hypolipidemic effects of the aqueous extract of Ajuga iva (0.5% in the diet) in rats fed a high-cholesterol (1%) diet (HCD). The results indicated that the HCD-Ai versus HCD treatment led to many changes in biochemical parameters. They showed a decrease of plasma total cholesterol (TC) and VLDL-cholesterol but an increase of HDL(2)-cholesterol. The triacylglycerol contents were reduced in plasma and in VLDL. The lipid peroxidation determined by TBARS was decreased by 75% in plasma. TBARS in liver, heart and kidneys were highly reduced excepted in the adipose tissue. Ajuga iva treatment enhanced superoxide dismutase activity in liver and kidney. Glutathione reductase activity was lowered in adipose tissue but increased in liver and in kidney. A significant increase was noted in glutathione peroxidase activity in liver, heart and kidney but a low value in adipose tissue was observed. In conclusion, the present study demonstrates that in addition to its potent TG and TC-lowering effects, Ajuga iva is effective in improving the antioxidant status by reducing lipid peroxidation in plasma and tissues and enhancing the antioxidant enzymes in rats fed high-cholesterol diet. Furthermore, Ajuga iva may reduce intestinal cholesterol absorption.
Subject(s)
Ajuga/chemistry , Antioxidants/metabolism , Cholesterol, Dietary/adverse effects , Lipids/blood , Plant Extracts/pharmacology , Animals , Body Weight/drug effects , Diet , Dietary Supplements , Eating/drug effects , Enzymes/drug effects , Enzymes/metabolism , Hypercholesterolemia/blood , Hypercholesterolemia/prevention & control , Lipoproteins/blood , Male , Organ Size/drug effects , Plant Extracts/chemistry , Rats , Rats, Wistar , Thiobarbituric Acid Reactive Substances/chemistry , Thiobarbituric Acid Reactive Substances/metabolismABSTRACT
Fish protein (FP) effect compared to casein (CAS) was studied on blood pressure (BP) evolution and glycemia in part, and on plasma lipid, angiotensine II and aldosterone concentrations and urinary aldosterone on the other hand, in SHR and in SHR with streptozotocin-induced diabetes (SHR-STZ). Two groups of rats (6 SHR and 6 SHR-STZ) were fed for 2 months diet containing 20% CAS or 20% FP. One month before sacrifice, diabetes was induced into one group of rats by a single intraperitonealy injection of streptozotocin (STZ). The results showed that FP diminished blood pressure (-9%) in SHR, compared with CAS. In contrast, FP enhanced significantly blood pressure in SHR-STZ vs SHR (p<0.01). There was no effect on glycemia with fish protein. FP compared to CAS involved a diminution (-41%) and (-17%) of total cholesterol and (-26%) and (-9%) of phospholipids in SHR and SHR-STZ, respectively. Moreover, a decrease of triacylglycerols (-21%) was noted in SHR-STZ with FP vs CAS. In SHR, plasma aldosterone and angiotensine II concentrations were reduced (-62%) and (-64%) and urinary aldosterone amounts were enhanced with FP compared to CAS (p<0.05). In SHR-STZ group, aldosterone value was fivefold lower in plasma and twofold higher in urine with FP compared to CAS. A significant enhancement of urinary aldosterone was noted in SHR-STZ vs SHR whatever diet-consumed. In conclusion, FP has a beneficial effect on blood pressure by modulating the hypertension markers i.e. plasma total cholesterol, angiotensine II and aldosterone, in SHR group, and on total cholesterol and triglycerids in SHR-STZ. FP reduces plasma aldosterone by its enhanced urinary excretion. It is necessary to specify the action mode of FP in order to propose it as nutritional complement in the degenerative diseases such as hypertension and diabetes.
