Effects of proanthocyanidin enriched extract from Ligaria cuneifolia on plasma cholesterol and hemorheological parameters. In vivo and In vitro studies

Abstract

with blood obtained by cardiac puncture, separated in aliquots and incubated with: 1. Saline solution (Control); 2. PLc 0.1 mg/mL, and 3. PLc 1.0 mg/mL, equivalent to doses in vivo experiments. The results demonstrated that in vivo PLc 0.6 and PLc 3 reduced plasma cholesterol (Cho) and LDL-Cho. Neither blood nor plasma viscosity was altered. Decrease of plasma cholesterol could be due to an increase of cholesterol and bile salts excretion leading to an increase of bile flow. In vitro experiments showed a direct interaction of PLc, at high concentration, with the erythrocyte membrane, inducing a switch from discocyte to stomatocyte. Only, PLc without hepatic metabolism produces hemorheological changes. Thus, PLc in vivo might be a pharmacological agent capable of decreasing plasma cholesterol.

Antioxidant Activity of Flavonoid Rich Fraction of Ligaria cuneifolia (Loranthaceae)

“…(Loranthaceae), the 'Argentine mistletoe', is a hemiparasite species that grows in the northwest and central regions of Argentina, [3] that has been used as a substitute of the 'European mistletoe', Viscum album L. (Santalaceae), based on its putative activity of decreasing high blood pressure. [1,4,5] Previous studies employing L. cuneifolia fractions in different animal models have shown a wide spectrum of beneficial biological effects, such as decreasing plasma cholesterol, [6] as well as antibacterial, [7] immunomodulatory, [8,9] and cytostatic properties. [10] The antioxidant activity has only been preliminary explored.…”

“…Previous studies employing L. cuneifolia fractions in different animal models have shown a wide spectrum of beneficial biological effects, such as decreasing plasma cholesterol, [6] as well as antibacterial, [7] immunomodulatory, [8,9] and cytostatic properties [10] . The antioxidant activity has only been preliminary explored [11] .…”

The Argentine MistletoesLigaria cuneifolia(Ruiz & Pav.) Tiegh (Loranthaceae) andPhoradendron liga(Gillies ex Hook. & Arn.) Eichler (Santalaceae). Thirty Years of Research

“…Histological assessment of liver sections of treated animals (Wistar rats) showed no sign of inflammation or injury of hepatocyte with intraperitoneal administration. [91] The treatment with the proanthocyanidin enriched fraction via intraperitoneal administration at 3, 7 and 10 days with different doses was tested in Wistar rats fed with a cholesterolrich diet. Plasma cholesterol levels, LDL, and serum triglycerides levels decreased due to the increase of the rate of bile acid output and biliary flow with no changes in blood viscosity.…”

Estudios de las propiedades medicinales de extracto total y distintas fracciones de Ligaria cuneifolia (R. et P.) Tiegh (Loranthaceae).

“…Posteriormente, realizamos el estudio con otra fracción extraída de Lc, enriquecida con el flavonoide proantocianidina (PLc). El tratamiento de ratas normocolesterolémicas por vía ip produjo un descenso significativo en los niveles plasmáticos de Co concomitante con un aumento de la VEBSB y de sales biliares, sin producir cambios en la viscosidad sanguínea, es decir, sin alterar la fluidez de la sangre (24).…”