title: Beneficial influence of dietary curcumin, capsaicin and garlic on erythrocyte integrity in high-fat fed rats.
abstract: In rats rendered hyperlipidemic by maintaining them on a high-fat diet (30%) for 8 weeks, inclusion of spice principles [curcumin (0.2%) or capsaicin (0.015%)] or garlic (2.0%) in the diet produced significant hypotriglyceridemic effect. Plasma cholesterol remained unaffected in high-fat treatment. Hepatic triglyceride content was significantly higher in high-fat fed rats, and this increase was effectively countered by inclusion of the hypolipidemic spice agents -- curcumin, capsaicin or garlic in the diet. The lipid profile of erythrocyte membranes of hyperlipidemic rats was similar to basal controls. An examination of the osmotic fragility of erythrocytes in various groups indicated that the red blood cells of hyperlipidemic rats display a slight resistance to osmotic lysis. Inclusion of spice principles [curcumin (0.2%) or capsaicin (0.015%)] or garlic (2.0%) in the diet, which produced the hypotriglyceridemic effect, appeared to beneficially correct this altered osmotic fragility of erythrocytes. Activities of ouabain-sensitive Na(+),K(+)-ATPase as well as acetylcholinesterase of erythrocyte membranes in high-fat fed rats remained unaltered. Activity of Ca(2+),Mg(2+)-ATPase in erythrocyte membrane was significantly decreased in high-fat fed animals, whereas dietary spice principles and garlic countered this reduction in enzyme activity. In the absence of any change in the cholesterol/phospholipid molar ratio in the erythrocyte membrane, a decreased activity of membrane-bound Ca(2+),Mg(2+)-ATPase could have probably contributed to the accumulation of intracellular calcium leading to the diminished deformability of the erythrocytes in high-fat fed rats.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry and Nutrition, Central Food Technological Research Institute, Mysore 570020, India.
authors.forename: Rayavara K
authors.initials: RK
authors.lastname: Kempaiah
authors.forename: Krishnapura
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Srinivasan
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017301:Ca(2+) Mg(2+)-ATPase / Q000378:metabolism; D002211:Capsaicin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D003474:Curcumin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004032:Diet; D004041:Dietary Fats / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects*; D004910:Erythrocyte Membrane / Q000187:drug effects / Q000201:enzymology; D005260:Female; D005737:Garlic; D008055:Lipids / Q000097:blood; D008099:Liver / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D008560:Membrane Fluidity / Q000187:drug effects; D008563:Membrane Lipids / Q000378:metabolism; D009929:Organ Size / Q000187:drug effects; D009996:Osmotic Fragility / Q000187:drug effects*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D000254:Sodium-Potassium-Exchanging ATPase / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D004041:Dietary Fats; D008055:Lipids; D008563:Membrane Lipids; D017301:Ca(2+) Mg(2+)-ATPase; D000254:Sodium-Potassium-Exchanging ATPase; D003474:Curcumin; D002211:Capsaicin