Effects of Labisia pumila var alata extracts on the lipid profile, serum antioxidant status and abdominal aorta of high-cholesterol diet rats.
BACKGROUND
Previous studies on Labisia pumila var. alata (LPva) have showed that it could inhibit low-density lipoprotein (LDL) oxidation and provide protection on myocardial infarction in rats.


OBJECTIVE
We hypothesized that LPva extracts can modulate the lipid profiles and serum antioxidant status of hypercholesterolemic rats. In the present study, we investigated the effects of aqueous and 80% ethanol extracts of LPva on atherogenic and serum antioxidant parameters as well as changes in abdominal aorta of high-cholesterol diet rats.


METHODS
The major components of the extracts, gallic acid, flavonoids and alkyl resorcinols were analyzed by using a validated reversed phase HPLC method. The rats were induced to hypercholesterolemic status with daily intake of 2% cholesterol for a duration of 8 weeks. Three different doses (100, 200 and 400mg/kg) of the extracts were administered daily on the 4th week onwards. The rats were then sacrificed and the blood was collected via abdominal aorta and serum was separated by centrifugation for biochemical analysis. Part of the aorta tissues were excised immediately for histopathological examination.


RESULTS
The serum of LPva treated rats showed significant reduction in serum aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) levels and the abdominal aorta showed a significant decrease of atheroma lesions in treated rats. Serum lipid profiles of treated rats showed a decrease in total cholesterol, total triglycerides and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) levels as compared to control group. The atherogenic indices in treated rats were significantly improved along with an increasing level of serum high-density lipoprotein (HDL). The extracts also exhibited significant increase of antioxidant enzymes and decrease of MDA as a product of lipid peroxidation.


CONCLUSIONS
LPva extracts can reduce the risk of dyslipidemia by improving the serum lipid profiles and modulating serum antioxidants.
Drug and Herbal Research Center, Faculty of Pharmacy, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Jalan Raja Muda Abdul Aziz, Kuala Lumpur 50300, Malaysia.
Roza
R
Dianita
Drug and Herbal Research Center, Faculty of Pharmacy, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Jalan Raja Muda Abdul Aziz, Kuala Lumpur 50300, Malaysia. Electronic address: profibj@gmail.com.
Ibrahim
I
Jantan
Drug and Herbal Research Center, Faculty of Pharmacy, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Jalan Raja Muda Abdul Aziz, Kuala Lumpur 50300, Malaysia.
Juriyati
J
Jalil
Drug and Herbal Research Center, Faculty of Pharmacy, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Jalan Raja Muda Abdul Aziz, Kuala Lumpur 50300, Malaysia.
Athirah Zawani
AZ
Amran
D000410:Alanine Transaminase / Q000097:blood; D000818:Animals; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001012:Aorta, Abdominal / Q000187:drug effects*; D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases / Q000097:blood; D050197:Atherosclerosis / Q000517:prevention & control; D002791:Cholesterol, Dietary / Q000009:adverse effects*; D004032:Diet; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D050171:Dyslipidemias / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000188:drug therapy; D000960:Hypolipidemic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007770:L-Lactate Dehydrogenase / Q000097:blood; D008055:Lipids / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology*; D029623:Primulaceae / Q000737:chemistry*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar
D000975:Antioxidants; D002791:Cholesterol, Dietary; D000960:Hypolipidemic Agents; D008055:Lipids; D010936:Plant Extracts; D007770:L-Lactate Dehydrogenase; D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases; D000410:Alanine Transaminase
Antihypercholesterolemic effect; Antioxidant enzymes; Atherogenic parameters; High-cholesteroal diet rats; Labisia pumila var. alata; Lipid-lipoprotein profile