Possible anti-atherogenic effect of kolaviron (a Garcinia kola seed extract) in hypercholesterolaemic rats.
1. The hypolipidaemic effect of kolaviron, a mixture of Garcinia biflavonoid 1 (GB1), Garcinia biflavonoid 2 (GB2) and kolaflavanone, used in the treatment of various ailments in southern Nigeria, was investigated in rats. The ability of Questran (Bristol-Myers Squibb, Hounslow, UK), a hypolipidaemic therapeutic drug, to attenuate hypercholesterolaemia in rats was also examined. 2. In order to assess the hypolipidaemic effect of this extract in experimental animals, thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances (TBARS), cholesterol, phospholipid, low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL-C), high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol and triglyceride levels were determined in the plasma and liver. 3. Cholesterol administered orally to rats at a dose of 30 mg/0.3 mL five times a week for 8 consecutive weeks resulted in a significant increase (P<0.001) in the relative weight of the heart of hypercholesterolaemic animals compared with control. However, cotreatment with kolaviron and Questran ameliorated the cholesterol-induced enlargement of the heart. Kolaviron (100 and 200 mg/kg) elicited 88.5 and 87.4% reductions, respectively, in plasma cholesterol levels of pretreated animals compared with the cholesterol-fed group. In addition, kolaviron produced a significant decrease (P<0.05) in post-mitochondrial fraction (PMF) cholesterol levels in treated animals compared with untreated hypercholesterolaemic animals. Similarly, Questran significantly decreased (P<0.05) the cholesterol-induced increase in plasma cholesterol levels compared with untreated hypercholesterolaemic animals. In addition, (100 and 200 mg/kg) significantly (P<0.05) decreased plasma LDL-C levels by over 70% in treated animals compared with untreated hypercholesterolaemic animals. Similarly, kolaviron significantly decreased (P<0.05) PMF LDL-C levels by over 60% in treated animals compared with untreated hypercholesterolaemic animals. 4. The significantly (P<0.05) higher values of plasma and PMF triglycerides obtained in cholesterol-fed animals compared with control animals were unaltered following cotreatment with kolaviron and Questran. In the present study, there was a significant decrease (P<0.05) in plasma formation of malondialdehyde in kolaviron- and Questran-treated animals compared with untreated hypercholesterolaemic animals. 5. The results of the present study demonstrate that kolaviron exerts a hypocholesterolaemic effect and reduces the relative weight of the heart in cholesterol-fed animals. This reduction and the favourable lipid profile indicate a possible anti-atherogenic property of the extract.
Adaramoye
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Drug Metabolism and Toxicology Unit, Department of Biochemistry, College of Medicine, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria. aoadaramoye@yahoo.com
Nwaneri
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Anyanwu
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KC
Farombi
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EO
Emerole
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D000818:Animals; D001161:Arteriosclerosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D001835:Body Weight / Q000187:drug effects; D002791:Cholesterol, Dietary / Q000494:pharmacology; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL / Q000097:blood; D005419:Flavonoids / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D029760:Garcinia / Q000737:chemistry*; D006937:Hypercholesterolemia / Q000150:complications*; D015227:Lipid Peroxidation / Q000187:drug effects; D008055:Lipids / Q000097:blood; D008074:Lipoproteins / Q000097:blood; D008099:Liver / Q000737:chemistry; D008297:Male; D009929:Organ Size / Q000187:drug effects; D010743:Phospholipids / Q000097:blood; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000627:therapeutic use; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood
D002791:Cholesterol, Dietary; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL; D005419:Flavonoids; D008055:Lipids; D008074:Lipoproteins; D010743:Phospholipids; D010936:Plant Extracts; D014280:Triglycerides; C045492:kolaviron