Iridoid extracts from Ajuga iva increase the antioxidant enzyme activities in red blood cells of rats fed a cholesterol-rich diet.
The lyophilized aqueous extract of Ajuga iva (Ai) is able to reduce oxidative stress, which may prevent lipid peroxidation in hypercholesterolemic rats. Iridoids (I) were isolated from Ai. We hypothesized that the antioxidant defense status in red blood cells (RBC) and tissues in rats fed a cholesterol-rich diet and treated with Ai may be correlated to these compounds. Male Wistar rats (n = 32) weighing 120 +/- 5 g were fed a diet containing 1% cholesterol for 15 days. After this phase, hypercholesterolemic (HC) rats were divided into groups, fed the same diet, and received either the same or different doses (5, 10, or 15 mg/kg body weight by intraperitoneal injection) of I for 15 days. Compared with the HC group, total cholesterol value was 1.4- and 1.2-fold lower in the I(5)-HC and I(10)-HC groups. Serum thiobarbituric acid reactive substance content was 2.3-, 2.9-, and 3-fold lower in the I(5)-HC, I(10)-HC, and I(15)-HC groups compared with the HC group. In RBC, glutathione peroxidase, glutathione reductase, and superoxide dismutase activities were significantly higher in the I(5)-HC, I(10)-HC, and I(15)-HC groups than the HC group. Liver, heart, and muscle glutathione peroxidase and superoxide dismutase activities were significantly higher in the groups treated with I than the HC group. Muscle glutathione reductase activity was increased 1.4-fold in the I(5)-HC, 1.5-fold in the I(10)-HC, and 1.5-fold in the I(15)-HC group. In HC rats, different doses of I increase the antioxidant enzyme activities in RBC and act differently in tissues. Treatment with I may play an important role in suppressing oxidative stress caused by dietary cholesterol and, thus, may be useful for the prevention and/or early treatment of hypercholesterolemia.
Bouderbala
Sherazede
S
Laboratoire de Nutrition Clinique et Métabolique, Département de Biologie, Faculté des Sciences, Université d'Oran Es-Sénia, 31000 Oran, Algeria. bsherazede@yahoo.fr
Prost
Josiane
J
Lacaille-Dubois
Marie Aleth
MA
Bouchenak
Malika
M
D031328:Ajuga / Q000737:chemistry*; D000818:Animals; D000924:Anticholesteremic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000378:metabolism*; D002791:Cholesterol, Dietary / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000378:metabolism*; D006937:Hypercholesterolemia / Q000188:drug therapy; D039823:Iridoids / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008099:Liver / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D009132:Muscles / Q000378:metabolism; D009206:Myocardium / Q000378:metabolism; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000187:drug effects; D008517:Phytotherapy; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D017392:Thiobarbituric Acid Reactive Substances / Q000378:metabolism
D000924:Anticholesteremic Agents; D000975:Antioxidants; D002791:Cholesterol, Dietary; D039823:Iridoids; D010936:Plant Extracts; D017392:Thiobarbituric Acid Reactive Substances