title: Anti-atherogenic potential of jujube, saffron and barberry: anti-diabetic and antioxidant actions.
abstract: Atherogenic dyslipidemia, characterized by an increased level of lipoprotein (a) and a decreased level of adiponectin, is a major risk factor for cardiovascular diseases in diabetic patients. To reduce cardiovascular risk in diabetic patients, use of agents with antidiabetic and anti-atherogenic potential is required. Using an animal model of diabetes, we investigated the antiatherogenic potential of extracts of three medicinal plants: jujube, barberry, and saffron. For this, serum level of fasting blood glucose, lipid profile, malondialdehyde, total antioxidant capacity, adiponectin and lipoprotein (a) in diabetic control and extract treated groups were measured. Statistical analysis of measurements showed that serum levels of fasting blood glucose, triglyceride, and VLDL decreased significantly (P < 0.05) in all treated groups. Treatment with all extracts reduced lipid peroxidation and increased antioxidant capacity of the experimental diabetic groups. Serum adiponectin levels increased in all treated groups, whereas lipoprotein (a) levels decreased, most markedly when treated with jujube extract. Jujube, saffron, and barberry extracts are beneficial in ameliorating oxidative stress and atherogenic risk of diabetic rats. This highlights the benefits of further investigating the cardio-protective potential of medicinal plant extracts and evaluating their usefulness as cardio protective agents in clinical practice.
authors.affiliation: Atherosclerosis and Coronary Artery Research Center, Birjand University of Medical Sciences, Birjand, Iran ; Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, Birjand University of Medical Sciences, Birjand, Iran.
authors.forename: Mina
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hemmati
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, Birjand University of Medical Sciences, Birjand, Iran.
authors.forename: Elham
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Zohoori
authors.affiliation: Atherosclerosis and Coronary Artery Research Center, Birjand University of Medical Sciences, Birjand, Iran.
authors.forename: Omid
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Mehrpour
authors.affiliation: Cellular and Molecular Research Center, Birjand University of Medical Sciences, Birjand, Iran.
authors.forename: Mehdi
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Karamian
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, Birjand University of Medical Sciences, Birjand, Iran.
authors.forename: Somaye
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Asghari
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, Birjand University of Medical Sciences, Birjand, Iran.
authors.forename: Asghar
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Zarban
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, Birjand University of Medical Sciences, Birjand, Iran.
authors.forename: Roya
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Nasouti
keywords: Atherogenic dyslipidemia; adiponectin; antioxidant; diabetes; medicinal plants