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Planta Med 2016; 82(06): 539-543
DOI: 10.1055/s-0042-102458
Biological and Pharmacological Activity
Original Papers
Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York

Changes in Plasma Lipid Levels and Antioxidant Activities in Rats after Supplementation of Obtusifolin

Si-Yi Zhuang   *
1   School of Life Science, South China Normal University, Guangzhou, P. R. China
,
Miao-Li Wu   *
2   The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, Guangzhou, P. R. China
,
Peng-Jv Wei
1   School of Life Science, South China Normal University, Guangzhou, P. R. China
,
Zhi-Ping Cao
1   School of Life Science, South China Normal University, Guangzhou, P. R. China
,
Peng Xiao
1   School of Life Science, South China Normal University, Guangzhou, P. R. China
,
Chu-Hua Li
1   School of Life Science, South China Normal University, Guangzhou, P. R. China
› Author Affiliations
Further Information

Publication History

received 31 August 2015
revised 18 January 2016

accepted 23 January 2016

Publication Date:
22 March 2016 (online)

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Abstract

Obtusifolin, an anthraquinone from Cassia obtusifolia seeds, has been reported to reduce blood lipid levels in diabetic rats induced by streptozocin. However, it remains unclear whether obtusifolin possesses a lipid-lowering effect on hyperlipidemia caused by a high-fat diet. Moreover, hyperlipidemia is known to impair the endothelial function by causing oxidative stress. Therefore, in the present study, we investigated the antidyslipidemic and antioxidant effects of obtusifolin in hyperlipidemic rats induced by a high-fat diet. Rats with oral fat emulsion were used as our hyperlipidemic model. We measured the body weight of the rats, serum total cholesterol, triglycerides, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, as well as nitric oxide, malondialdehyde, and superoxide dismutase. Our results showed that oral obtusifolin application significantly reversed the changes induced by hyperlipidemia in body weight, total cholesterol, triglyceride, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol. Furthermore, obtusifolin treatment increased serum superoxide dismutase and nitric oxide, but reduced malondialdehyde. Collectively, our findings suggest that obtusifolin may improve hyperlipidemia by enhancing antioxidant activity. This study indicates a potential therapeutic importance of obtusifolin for ameliorating lipid dysfunction induced by a high-fat diet.

Key words

Cassia obtusifolia - obtusifolin - hyperlipidemia - high-fat diet - antioxidation

* These authors contributed equally to this paper.


 

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