Purpose This paper aims to study the effects of Zygophyllum album (Za) (Z. album) in hypercholesterolemic-diabetic rats. Design/methodology/approach Male Wistar rats (n = 36) weighing 200 ± 10 g, consumed an experimental diet containing 20 per cent casein were divided into three groups (n = 12). The first group consumed the diet enriched with 1 per cent cholesterol (CH), the second group is rendered diabetic by intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin (STZ) (35 mg/kg body weight) (D) (DM). The third group is hypercholesterolemic and STZ-induced diabetic (CH-DM); each group was subdivided into two groups (n = 6), non-treated groups (CH, DM and CH-DM) and treated groups supplemented with 1 per cent Z. album lyophilized aqueous extract (CH-Z, DM-Z and CH-DM-Z). Findings In CH-DM group, Z. album decreases glycemia (−15 per cent) and inversely increases insulinemia (+28 per cent) and Homeostasis Model Assessment of Insulin Resistance (+19 per cent). In liver, total cholesterol (TC) and triacyglycerols (TAG) levels were reduced by −57 per cent and −29 per cent, respectively. In plasma, TC concentration was increased by +20 per cent, whereas those of TAG level were lowered by −56 per cent. Lecithin cholesterol acyl transferase and paraoxonase 1 activities were raised by +45 and +59 per cent, respectively. Inversely, thiobarbituric acid reactive substance levels were lowered significantly in liver, heart, kidney and adipose tissue (p < 0.05). Superoxide dismutase activity was enhanced in liver (+54 per cent), heart (+36 per cent), kidney (+45 per cent) and adipose tissue (59 per cent). Liver glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) activity was enhanced by +38 per cent and heart activities of GSH-Px, and glutathione reductase (GSSH-Red) were increased by +25 and +18 per cent. In kidney, GSH-Px activity was reduced by −26 per cent; in reverse, GSSH-Red activity was increased by +14 per cent. In adipose tissue, GSH-Px and GSSH-Red activities were augmented by +35 and +15 per cent. Originality/value These results suggest that Z. album aqueous extract has antihyperglycemic and antihyperlipemic actions. Also, Z. album protects against tissue oxidative damage; therefore, it can help to prevent cardiovascular complications of diabetes combined with hypercholesterolemia.

Purpose This study aims to examine whether Globularia alypum (Ga) lyophilized aqueous leaves extract treatment improves cardiometabolic syndromes such as hyperglycemia, lipid profiles and oxidative damage resulting from a high-fructose diet induced in hypertriglyceridemic rats. Design/methodology/approach A total of 24 male Wistar rats weighing 80 ± 5 g were first randomly divided into 2 groups. A total of 12 control rats (C) were fed a standard-diet (St-D) and 12 high fructose (HF) rats were fed a high-fructose diet (HF-D) containing St-D in which cornstarch was substituted by fructose (61.4%). After 15 weeks of feeding, body weight (BW) was about 320 ± 20 g and hypertriglyceridemia was noted in HF vs C group (2.69 ± 0.49 mmol/L) vs (1.25 ± 0.33 mmol/L). Each group of rats was then divided into two equal groups (n = 6) and fed during four weeks either a St-D or HF-D, treated or not with 1% of Ga extract (C-Ga) and (HF-Ga). After 28 days, fasting rats were anesthetized and blood and tissues were removed to measure biochemical parameters. Findings The results showed no significant differences in BW and insulinemia between all groups. Ga extract supplementation reduced glycemia (−36%), glycosylated hemoglobin (−37%), Homeostasis Model of Assessment-Insulin Resistance index (−34%) and triacylglycerol’s contents in plasma (−33%), very low density lipoproteins–low density lipoproteins (VLDL-LDL) (−48%), liver (−52%) and aorta (−39%); total cholesterol concentrations in aorta was 3.7-fold lower in HF-Ga vs HF group. Ga treatment reduced lipid peroxidation in plasma, VLDL-LDL, red blood cells (RBC), liver, muscle and kidney by improving superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) in RBC and catalase (CAT) activity in kidney (p < 0.05). Moreover, Ga ameliorates glutathione (GSH) production in RBC (+41%) and kidney tissues (+35%). Originality/value Ga extract ameliorated cardiometabolic syndrome by its hypotriglyceridemic effect and prevented development of insulin resistance. It reduces lipid peroxidation by enhancing non-enzymatic (GSH) and enzymatic (SOD, GPx and CAT) antioxidant defense systems in high-fructose hypertriglyceridemic rats. Therefore, supplementation of Ga leaves extract as an adjuvant could be used for the treatment of hypertriglyceridemia and the prevention and/or the management of cardio-metabolic adverse effects.

Purpose This paper aims to investigate the preventive effects of a concomitant supplementation of a lyophilized aqueous extract of Globularia alypum (Ga) leaves in a high cholesterol-diet (HC-D) on lipid profile and lecithin cholesterol acyltransferase (LCAT) activity in hypercholesterolemic rats. Design/methodology/approach Twenty-four male Wistar rats weighing 232 ± 10 g were divided into four groups (n = 6). Two control groups were fed a standard-diet (St-D) supplemented (C-Ga) or not (C) with 1.66% Ga leaf extract. The two others experimental groups were fed HC-D, which contains the St-D plus 1% of cholesterol and 0.5% of cholic acid supplemented (HC-Ga) or not (HC) with the same amount of Ga. At d28, feces were collected and fasting rats were anesthetized; bloods and livers were removed to measure biochemical parameters. Findings In hypercholesterolemic (HC) rats, Ga supplementation in HC-D induced a significant reduction in ALT (−64%, p = 0.002) and AST (−71%; p = 0.005) activities, in plasma TC (−55%; p = 0.03) and TG (−54%; p = 0.01) concentrations, in cholesterol contents of atherogenic lipoproteins VLDL (−78%; p = 0.004) and LDL-HDL1 (−64%; p = 0.003) and inversely, an increase in those of anti-atherogenic HDL2 (+14%; p = 0.002). Feeding the HC-D-Ga exhibited a reduction in atherogenic index Apo B/Apo A-I (−72%; p = 0.002), an increase in faecal lipids, cholesterol excretion and in plasma apo A-I (+60%; p = 0.002) and HDL2-cholesteryl esters (+32%, p = 0.04) and then improved LCAT activity (+31%; p = 0.03). Originality/value In hypercholesterolemic rats, Globularia alypum extract was effective in preventing lipid disorders by its hypolipidemic action, had an anti-atherogenic potential and a protective effect against cardiovascular risk by enhancing LCAT activity.

Introduction. Zygophyllum album (Z. album) is used in traditional medicine for a long time for its anti-diabetic activities. Objective. To investigate Z. album extract supplementation effects on redox and inflammatory status in hypercholesterolemic-diabetic rats. Material and methods. Male Wistar rats (n=36), weighing 200±10g were divided into three groups (n=12). The 1st group was hypercholesterolemic (HC) by consuming cholesterol enriched diet (1%). The 2nd group was diabetic (D) by intraperi-toneal injection of streptozotocin (STZ) (35 mg/kg body weight). The 3rd group was hypercholesterolemic-diabetic (HC-D). Each group was divided into two subgroups (n=6), untreated (HC, D, HC-D) and treated groups with 1% Z. album extract (HC-Za, D-Za and HC-D-Za). Results. At d28, Z. album treatment lead to a decrease in erythrocytes thiobarbituric reactive substances (TBARS) in HC-Za (-44%), D-Za (-66%) and HC-D-Za (-23%) groups. Increased erythrocytes antioxidant enzymes activities (superoxide dismu-tase, glutathione peroxidase, glutathione reductase and catalase) were observed in HC-Za, D-Za and HC-D-Za (p<0.05). In plasma, interleukin (IL-1 β and IL-6) concentrations were reduced by -44, -50 and -33%, and -49, 38 and -41%, respectively in treated groups. In plasma, a decrease of TNF-α (Tumor Necrosis Factor-α), homocysteine and protein-C reactive (CRP) was observed in Z. album treated groups (p<0.05). Conclusion. Z. album reduces radical attack and improves anti-inflammatory proprieties in hypercholesterolemic-diabetic rats.