Hypolipidemic and antioxidant effects of Morus alba L. (Egyptian mulberry) root bark fractions supplementation in cholesterol-fed rats

Life Sci. 2006 May 1;78(23):2724-33. doi: 10.1016/j.lfs.2005.10.010. Epub 2005 Nov 28.

Abstract

The 70% alcohol extract of the Egyptian Morus alba L. root bark was fractionated over cellulose CC eluted with water, 50% methanol and finally with 100% methanol to yield 3 fractions (MRBF-1, MRBF-2 and MRBF-3), respectively. In continuation of chromatographic purification of 70% alcohol extract fractions of the Egyptian M. alba L. root bark, 4 compounds namely: mulberroside A, 5,7,2'-trihydroxyflavanone-4'-O-beta-D-glucoside and albanols A and B were isolated from MRBF-2 for the first time from the Egyptian plant. Experimentally induced atherosclerosis was produced by feeding rats a diet enriched in coconut oil (25% by weight) and cholesterol (2% by weight) for 21 days. Then, hypercholesterolemic rats were orally administered (MRBF-1, MRBF-2 and MRBF-3 fractions) in a dose of 500 mg kg(-1) day(-1) for 15 successive days, in order to evaluate their expected hypocholesterolemic activity. Lipid profile parameters such as plasma total cholesterol, LDL-C, VLDL-C, LDL:HDL ratio and triglycerides, as well as plasma and liver lipid peroxides and glutathione-S-transferase enzyme levels, serum paraoxonase enzyme level, LDL oxidation, LDL aggregation and LDL retention, were measured. Plasma and liver glutathione-S-transferase enzyme levels were unaffected in all studied groups. The results revealed that the administration of (MRBF-2 and/or MRBF-3) fractions resulted in alleviation of atherosclerotic state. Administration of MRBF-3 significantly retained plasma and liver peroxides towards their normal levels, and also, produced significant increase in resistance towards major atherogenic modifications; namely LDL oxidation, LDL aggregation and LDL retention by 44%, 30%, and 33%, respectively. Thus, it can be concluded that the consumption of MRBF-2 and (MRBF-3, in some extent) fractions of M. alba L. root bark 70% alcohol extract may act as a potent hypocholesterolemic nutrient and powerful antioxidant via the inhibition of LDL atherogenic modifications and lipid peroxides formation in hypercholesterolemic rats.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Anticholesteremic Agents / pharmacology
  • Anticholesteremic Agents / therapeutic use*
  • Antioxidants / pharmacology
  • Antioxidants / therapeutic use*
  • Atherosclerosis / blood
  • Atherosclerosis / complications
  • Atherosclerosis / drug therapy*
  • Chemical Fractionation
  • Cholesterol / blood
  • Cholesterol, Dietary / administration & dosage
  • Disease Models, Animal
  • Hypercholesterolemia / blood
  • Hypercholesterolemia / complications
  • Hypercholesterolemia / drug therapy*
  • Male
  • Morus / chemistry*
  • Phytotherapy*
  • Plant Extracts / pharmacology
  • Plant Extracts / therapeutic use*
  • Plant Roots / chemistry
  • Rats
  • Rats, Wistar

Substances

  • Anticholesteremic Agents
  • Antioxidants
  • Cholesterol, Dietary
  • Plant Extracts
  • Cholesterol