Hypolipidemic and antioxidant effects of dandelion (Taraxacum officinale) root and leaf on cholesterol-fed rabbits

Abstract

Dandelion (Taraxacum officinale), an oriental herbal medicine, has been shown to favorably affect choleretic, antirheumatic and diuretin properties. Recent reports have indicated that excessive oxidative stress contributes to the development of atherosclerosis-linked metabolic syndrome. The objective of this current study was to investigate the possible hypolipidemic and antioxidative effects of dandelion root and leaf in rabbits fed with a high-cholesterol diet. A group of twenty eight male rabbits was divided into four subgroups; a normal diet group, a high-cholesterol diet group, a high-cholesterol diet with 1% (w/w) dandelion leaf group, and a high-cholesterol diet with 1% (w/w) dandelion root group. After the treatment period, the plasma antioxidant enzymes and lipid profiles were determined. Our results show that treatment with dandelion root and leaf positively changed plasma antioxidant enzyme activities and lipid profiles in cholesterol-fed rabbits, and thus may have potential hypolipidemic and antioxidant effects. Dandelion root and leaf could protect against oxidative stress linked atherosclerosis and decrease the atherogenic index.

Keywords: Taraxacum officinale; antioxidant activity; atherosclerosis; dandelion; hypolipidemic effects.

Figure 1.

The aortic sections of rabbits fed different diets. (A) normal diet, (B) high cholesterol diet, (C) high cholesterol + 1% (w/w) dandelion leaf diet, (D) high cholesterol + 1% (w/w) dandelion root diet, (E) The graph shows data of means ± standard deviation from seven animals per group.^a–c Means in the same column not sharing a common letter are significantly different (P < 0.05) by Duncan’s multiple test.