title: Oral administration of alkaloid fraction from Ruta graveolens inhibits oxidative stress and inflammation in hypercholesterolemic rabbits.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The anti-atherogenic effect of alkaloid fraction from Ruta graveolens Linn (Rutaceae) extract is suspected to be related to its activities of antioxidation and anti-inflammation.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  This study investigated the efficacy of alkaloid fraction isolated from Ruta graveolens (AFR) in reducing oxidative damage and inflammation in hypercholesteremic rabbits.
  
  
  METHODS
  The New Zealand white rabbits were randomly divided into three groups: Group I rabbits were fed with normal chow diet for 90 d. Group II rabbits were fed with 1% cholesterol-enriched diet. Group III rabbits were fed with 1% cholesterol-enriched diet together with AFR (10 mg/kg/daily for 90 d).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results showed that on treatment with AFR significantly lowered the level of total cholesterol and LDL-C and showed an increment in the level of HDL-C. LD50 of the AFR in rats is greater than 525 mg/kg. Activities of antioxidant enzymes such as superoxide dismutase, catalase and glutathione peroxidase and GSH level were decreased in cholesterol-fed rabbit and supplementation of AFR significantly enhanced the activities of these antioxidant enzymes and GSH level. Increased activities of enzymes such as cyclooxygenase-2, 15-lipoxygenase and myeloperoxidase were significantly suppressed by AFR administration. The acute phase proteins, total WBC count and TBARS concentrations were significantly increased by hypercholesteromic diet, which were significantly decreased by AFR treatment. Histopathological studies of aorta in cholesterol-fed rabbit showed plaque formation and significant changes in aortic wall. Administration of AFR showed no changes in aortic wall.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  AFR reduces oxidative stress and inflammation and reduces the aortic pathology in hypercholesteromic rabbits.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, University of Kerala , Thiruvananthapuram , India.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ratheesh
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Helen
mesh_terms: D000209:Acute-Phase Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D000284:Administration, Oral; D000470:Alkaloids / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000818:Animals; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001011:Aorta / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology; D001093:Arachidonate 15-Lipoxygenase / Q000378:metabolism; D051546:Cyclooxygenase 2 / Q000378:metabolism; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D006937:Hypercholesterolemia / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D007963:Leukocytes, Mononuclear / Q000187:drug effects / Q000201:enzymology; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000187:drug effects*; D011817:Rabbits; D032105:Ruta / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D000209:Acute-Phase Proteins; D000470:Alkaloids; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; D000975:Antioxidants; D001093:Arachidonate 15-Lipoxygenase; D051546:Cyclooxygenase 2