Hypolipidemic and antioxidant activities of avocado fruit pulp on high cholesterol fed diet in rats

Abstract

Avocado, Persea americana Mill. (Lauraceae) is a widely consumed fruit in many countries for its nutritional and medicinal benefits. In the present study, avocado fruit pulp (AFP) was investigated for its anti-hyperlipidemic and antioxidant activities in Wistar albino rats. Hyperlipidemia in the animal was induced by feeding high cholesterol diet (HCD) for 70 days in standard chow diet. Rats on HCD showed significant increase in serum liver marker enzymes (GOT, GPT, GGT, ALP) and bilirubin levels; cholesterol, Increased low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), very low density lipoprotein cholesterol (VLDL-C) and triglycerides (TG) levels in serum were also elevated. Besides, an increase in lipid peroxidative indicator malondialdehyde (MDA) level, there was a decrease in serum HDL-C; nonprotein sulfhydryl (NP-SH) and total protein (TP) in both liver and heart tissues. Treatment with AFP (1 and 2 ml/rat/day, orally) showed significant decrease in serum cholesterol, LDL-C, VLDL-C, TG, glutamic-pyruvic transaminase (GPT), glutamic-oxaloacetic transaminase (GOT), γ γ γ γ-, alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and bilirubin levels, while liver and heart MDA was also significantly decreased. After ingestion of AFP, significant increase in non-protein sulfhydryl (NP-SH), total protein (TP) contents in both tissues were observed. Assessment of liver and heart pathology showed that AFP administration caused an improvement in fatty acid changes of the tissues caused by heavy-chain disease (HCD). These results suggest that AFP possesses hypocholesterolemic and antioxidant properties due to its phytoconstituents contents and substantiates its use in folkloric practices to control dyslipidemia.

Protective Effect of T. violacea Rhizome Extract Against Hypercholesterolemia-Induced Oxidative Stress in Wistar Rats

“…The activity of the extract is dose dependant and is comparable to the standard drug at the highest concentration (500 mg/kg). A similar observation had been previously reported after oral administration of avocado fruit pulp to hyperlipidemic rats [25]. The ability of the plant extract to protect against reduction in albumin or total protein resulting from a high cholesterol diet may be attributed to its free radical scavenging properties [17].…”

Anti-fat deposition and antioxidant effects of haw pectic oligosaccharide in the liver of high-fat-fed mice

“…Some food components could act as antioxidants to suppress the lipid oxidation. Al-Dosari (2011) reported that avocado fruit pulp exhibited great antioxidant property in high-cholesterol-fed rats, representing as significantly reducing the MDA concentration. Chen, Liu, Zhu, Xu, and Li (2011) found that soybean oligosaccharides were able to enhance SOD activity by reducing oxidative stress in the liver of HF-fed rats.…”

Effects of Avocado (Persea americana)on Metabolic Syndrome: A Comprehensive Systematic Review

“…There was also a significant increase in non‐protein sulfhydryl and TP contents in both tissues. These results suggested that avocado showed hypocholesterolemic and antioxidant properties because of its phytoconstituents contents (Al‐Dosari, ). Avocado seed flour (125, 250, and 500 mg/kg/day, by gavage, for 2 weeks) was administered to HCD mice.…”