Antihyperlipidemic Effect of Methanolic Extract from Opuntia joconostle Seeds in Mice Fed a Hypercholesterolemic Diet

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the hypolipidemic effect of a methanolic extract from Opuntia joconostle seeds fed to mice in a hypercholesterolemic diet. Acute toxicity of the methanolic extract was investigated by an established method. Phenolic composition and antioxidant activity were determined by high-performance liquid chromatography and DPPH, respectively. The total phenolic content of Opuntia joconostle seeds was 47.85 ± 1.29 mg gallic acid equivalents/g dry weight. The main phenolic compounds were identified as quercetin, rutin, and cafeic acid. Percent inhibition of DPPH⁺ was 49.76 ± 0.49 %. The oral LD₅₀ for the methanolic extract from the Opuntia joconostle seeds was >5,000 mg/kg BW. Mice fed a hypercholesterolemic diet for six days exhibited significantly (P ≤ 0.001) higher plasma lipid levels than mice fed a normal diet. Remarkably, supplementation with methanolic extract from Opuntia joconostle at doses of 1, 2, and 5 g/kg body weight significantly (P ≤ 0.001) prevented the increase in total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, triglycerides level, and atherogenic index. Similar concentrations of the HDL cholesterol were observed in both treated and control groups. A significant dose-dependent reduction in lipid levels was noted for treated groups compared to the hypercholesterolemic group. We attribute this result to the seeds' phenolic composition. This methanolic extract has potential to be included in short-term hypercholesterolemia treatment regimens as it exhibits hypolipidemic activity with no apparent toxic manifestations.

Seed oil extraction from red prickly pear using hexane and supercritical CO2: assessment of phenolic compound composition, antioxidant and antibacterial activities

“…Similar curves were obtained using the two extracts, reaching a maximum of inhibition with 25 µg GAE mL −1 . Total scavenging activities were higher than that obtained for O. joconostle methanolic seed extract (49.76% ± 0.49%) and similar to O. ficus indica acetonic seed extract (95%) . The half inhibition concentration (IC 50 ) values, which are the concentrations required to reduce the DPPH free radicals by 50%, were also determined.…”

Opuntia spp.: Characterization and Benefits in Chronic Diseases

“…These lipid-lowering properties were confirmed by studies on mice fed with a hypercholesterolemic diet. When the animals were supplemented with a methanolic extract from O. joconostle (polyphenol enriched) seeds, they exhibited a marked reduction in circulating LDL cholesterol and triglyceride levels, by comparison with animals fed with a placebo [61]. …”

“…on LDL oxidation was supported by a decrease in HNE-adduct accumulation in the intima [76]. In contrast to the data reported by Osorio-Esquivel et al [61], the intake of O. streptacantha or O. ficus-indica cladodes did not reduce the plasma cholesterol level [56]. This discrepancy may result from the diet (basal or cholesterol-enriched) or from the Opuntia components (cladodes versus seeds).…”

Dietary chia seeds (Salvia hispanica) improve acute dyslipidemia and steatohepatitis in rats

“…Chia is also rich in functional proteins since peptides from chia have shown antibacterial activity and, remarkably, inhibit HMG‐CoAR, lowering Chol synthesis (Silveira Coelho, Manólio Soares‐Freitas, Gomes Arêas, Avila Gandra, & Salas‐Mellado, ). Furthermore, the TPC of chia may elicit anti‐hyperlipidemic and anti‐adipogenic effects (Cho et al, ; Osorio‐Esquivel, Ortiz‐Moreno, Garduno‐Siciliano, Alvarez, & Hernandez‐Navarro, ) by regulating similar signaling pathways (Castro‐Barquero et al, ; Wang et al, ). The Figure is a scheme that summarizes the possible molecular mechanisms of action elicited in liver and plasma by chia seeds constituents, such as the PUFAs ω‐6:ω‐3, polyphenols, dietary fiber, and proteins as hypolipidemic and hepatoprotective agents based on several data reported by other authors, as well as based on all the plasma and liver biochemical markers evaluated and verified by the histological analysis in this study.…”