Phenolic compounds from Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis L.) attenuate oxidative stress and reduce blood cholesterol concentrations in diet-induced hypercholesterolemic rats

Abstract

BackgroundPhenolic compounds combine antioxidant and hypocholesterolemic activities and, consequently, are expected to prevent or minimize cardiometabolic risk.MethodsTo evaluate the effect of an aqueous extract (AQ) and non-esterified phenolic fraction (NEPF) from rosemary on oxidative stress in diet-induced hypercholesterolemia, 48 male 4-week old Wistar rats were divided into 6 groups: 1 chow diet group (C) and 5 hypercholesterolemic diet groups, with 1 receiving water (HC), 2 receiving AQ at concentrations of 7 and 140 mg/kg body weight (AQ70 and AQ140, respectively), and 2 receiving NEPF at concentrations of 7 and 14 mg/kg body weight (NEPF7 and NEPF14, respectively) by gavage for 4 weeks.ResultsIn vitro, both AQ and NEPF had remarkable antioxidant activity in the 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH●) assay, which was similar to BHT. In vivo, the group that received AQ at 70 mg/kg body weight had lower serum total cholesterol (−39.8%), non-HDL-c (−44.4%) and thiobarbituric acid reactive substance (TBARS) levels (−37.7%) compared with the HC group. NEPF (7 and 14 mg/kg) reduced the tissue TBARS levels and increased the activity of tissular antioxidant enzymes (superoxide dismutase, catalase and glutathione peroxidase). Neither AQ nor NEPF was able to ameliorate the alterations in the hypercholesterolemic diet-induced fatty acid composition in the liver.ConclusionsThese data suggest that phenolic compounds from rosemary ameliorate the antioxidant defense in different tissues and attenuate oxidative stress in diet-induced hypercholesterolemic rats, whereas the serum lipid profile was improved only in rats that received the aqueous extract.

Anti-Atherosclerotic Activity of Elaeocarpus Ganitrus Roxb. In Cholesterol-Fed Rabbits

“…These substances are noxious to endothelial cells, leading in lesions that promote monocytes and macrophages to grow into foam cells, eventually resulting into atheroma [41]. A marked decrease in plaques was observed in the EEGS extract-treated groups as compared to the cholesterol-fed group.…”

Antihyperlipidemic, antioxidant and weightlowering effects of “Vitalplant”

“…In our experiments, "Vitalplant" mixture was shown to be able to protect erythrocytes of the rats fed the highfat diet from oxidative damage, which was indicated by significantly lower MDA levels in groups IV and V. Although some studies suggested that feeding rats with plant materials rich in plant phenolics increased the activity of antioxidant enzymes [32]. The results of the present study show a decrease in the antioxidant enzymes, possibly due to the capacity of dietary antioxidants, phenolic compounds from "Vitalplant" mixture, to scavenge oxygen radicals and consequently reduce the need for enzymatic endogenous antioxidants.…”

Pharmacological activity of the hydroalcoholic extract from Hovenia dulcis thunberg fruit and the flavonoid dihydromyricetin during hypercholesterolemia induced in rats

“…The in vivo evaluation of pharmacological activity was based on the studies of Machado et al (2003) and Afonso et al (2013). The use of laboratory animals in this study was previously approved by the Ethics Committee on Animal Experimentation of the Biological Sciences and Health Faculty (FACISA-Viçosa/MG, Protocol 0017/2012-1).…”

“…However, Machado et al (2003) obtained moderate hypercholesterolemia (49%) using a diet supplemented with 1% cholesterol and 0.1% cholic acid. Afonso et al (2013), using a diet containing 0.5% cholesterol and 0.25% cholic acid reached an extreme state of hypercholesterolemia with an increase of 297% in total cholesterol.…”