Hypolipidemic and antioxidant effects of ethanol extract of Cassia fistula fruit in hyperlipidemic mice

CONTEXT

The plant Cassia fistula L. (Caesalpiniaceae) fruit was widely used by traditional practitioners to treat cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) in India. Hyperlipidemia is a lipid metabolism disorder and the major risk factor for the development of CVDs. Although most of the current hypolipidemic drugs are expensive and have potential side effects, the research focusing on natural alternative medicines is relevant.

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the hypolipidemic and antioxidant effects of ethanol extract of C. fistula fruit (CFE) in high-fat diet (HFD) induced hyperlipidemia in mice.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Oral administration of CFE at 100, 300 and 500 mg/kg body weight on HFD induced hyperlipidemia mice for 30 days. The standard drug atorvastatin (20 mg/kg) was used to compare the efficacy of CFE. Hypolipidemic effect was evidenced by the measurement of serum lipid profile and further confirmed by Oil Red O staining of adipose tissue. The hepatic and cardiac melondialdehyde (MDA) level and antioxidant enzyme activities including superoxide dismutase, catalase and glutathione peroxidase were determined.

RESULTS

Treatment with CFE at different doses has significantly restored the levels of serum lipid, MDA and enzymes activities in the liver and heart of hyperlipidemia mice. Oil Red O staining of visceral adipose tissue has shown marked reduction of lipid accumulation in adipocytes; whereas, administration of CFE at 500 mg/kg showed remarkable (p < 0.001) hypolipidemic and antioxidant effects in HFD fed mice.

CONCLUSION

C. fistula fruit demonstrated hypolipidemic and antioxidant properties in vivo and the results corroborate the use of this plant in traditional medicine for cardiac ailments.

Lipid-lowering effects of Zanthoxylum schinifolium Siebold & Zucc. seed oil (ZSO) in hyperlipidemic rats and lipolytic effects in 3T3-L1 adipocytes

On the basis of the antiatherosclerotic effect of Zanthoxylum schinifolium, the therapeutic potential of Zanthoxylum schinifolium seed oil (ZSO) was tested in terms of the blood lipid profile and obesity in rats. The lipolytic effects of ZSO were determined in adipocytes and the total body and liver weight were decreased in rats. Compared with the high-cholesterol high-fat (HCHF) group, the rats in the HCHF+ZSO group showed improved levels of hyperlipidemia indicators. Furthermore, western blot analysis confirmed that the improvement of hyperlipidemia indicators was induced by stimulation of lipoprotein lipase expression. Additional results indicated that the reduction in body weight was likely caused by phosphorylation of hormone-sensitive lipase (HSL) via the protein kinase A pathway, ultimately leading to lipolysis. In conclusion, the results of the in vivo experiment showed that ZSO improved the lipid profiles in the blood, lowering cardiovascular disease and arteriosclerosis and degrading cellular lipids by activating HSL.