Fatma Mohamed Hussein Shediwah1, Khalid Mohammed Naji2, Hussein Saleh Gumaih1, Fatima A Alhadi1, Amani Lutf Al-Hammami1, Myrene Roselyn D'Souza3. 1. Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Sana'a University, 13499 Sana'a, Yemen. 2. Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Sana'a University, 13499 Sana'a, Yemen; Chemical Ecology, Department of Biology, University of Konstanz, D-78457 Constance, Germany. Electronic address: khalid.m.naji@gmail.com. 3. Department of Biochemistry, Mount Carmel College, Bengaluru, Karnataka 560052, India.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: An extract of Costus speciosus (CSE), a herb widely used in folk medicine, was evaluated for its antioxidant, antihyperlipidemic and ameliorating effects on histopathological changes in atherogenic rabbits. METHODS: Twenty-four male rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus) were divided into 4 groups. Three groups were fed a diet containing 3% saturated fat and 1.3% cholesterol for 40 d. One of these was sacrificed on the 40th day and was called the pathogenic (P) group; the other two groups received treatment for another 30 d as follows: one received 0.8 g/(kg·d) of CSE and the other was given 0.01 g/(kg·d) of simvastatin. The normal group was sacrificed on the 70th day and used as a control. RESULTS: CSE showed radical-scavenging ability. Administration of CSE for a 30-day period resulted in a significant decrease in total cholesterol, triacylglycerol, low-density lipoprotein and aspartate aminotransferase compared to the P group, while levels of hemoglobin, packed corpuscular volume and red blood cells were elevated. With respect to studies performed on the heart, a decrease in malondialdehyde and an increase in reduced glutathione were noted. Total protein increased in the liver, heart and aorta after treatment with CSE and also a marked improvement in histopathological parameters was demonstrated. CONCLUSION: The present findings indicate that the C. speciosus rhizome possesses antiatherogenic and antioxidant properties which may provide protective effects against oxidative stress in atherosclerotic rabbits. Published by Elsevier B.V.
OBJECTIVE: An extract of Costus speciosus (CSE), a herb widely used in folk medicine, was evaluated for its antioxidant, antihyperlipidemic and ameliorating effects on histopathological changes in atherogenic rabbits. METHODS: Twenty-four male rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus) were divided into 4 groups. Three groups were fed a diet containing 3% saturated fat and 1.3% cholesterol for 40 d. One of these was sacrificed on the 40th day and was called the pathogenic (P) group; the other two groups received treatment for another 30 d as follows: one received 0.8 g/(kg·d) of CSE and the other was given 0.01 g/(kg·d) of simvastatin. The normal group was sacrificed on the 70th day and used as a control. RESULTS:CSE showed radical-scavenging ability. Administration of CSE for a 30-day period resulted in a significant decrease in total cholesterol, triacylglycerol, low-density lipoprotein and aspartate aminotransferase compared to the P group, while levels of hemoglobin, packed corpuscular volume and red blood cells were elevated. With respect to studies performed on the heart, a decrease in malondialdehyde and an increase in reduced glutathione were noted. Total protein increased in the liver, heart and aorta after treatment with CSE and also a marked improvement in histopathological parameters was demonstrated. CONCLUSION: The present findings indicate that the C. speciosus rhizome possesses antiatherogenic and antioxidant properties which may provide protective effects against oxidative stress in atherosclerotic rabbits. Published by Elsevier B.V.