Hypolipidemic and antioxidant effects of mulberry (Morus alba L.) fruit in hyperlipidaemia rats

Food Chem Toxicol. 2010 Aug-Sep;48(8-9):2374-9. doi: 10.1016/j.fct.2010.05.074. Epub 2010 Jun 1.

Abstract

The phytochemical constituents of a freeze-dried powder of mulberry (Morus alba L.) fruit (MFP) were determined. The hypolipidemic and antioxidant effects of the MFP as a dietary supplement were evaluated in rats who were fed 4 weeks of either a high-fat or a normal diet supplemented with 5% or 10% MFP. Administration of MFP to rats on a high-fat diet resulted in a significant decline in levels of serum and liver triglyceride, total cholesterol, serum low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and a decrease in the atherogenic index, while the serum high-density lipoprotein cholesterol was significantly increased. In addition, the serum and liver content of thiobarbituric acid related substances, a lipid peroxidation product, significantly decreased, while the superoxide dismutase (SOD) of red blood cell and liver, as well blood glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) activities significantly increased. No significant changes in lipid profile in the serum and liver were observed in rats on a normal diet supplemented with MFP, but blood and liver antioxidant status improved, as measured by SOD and GSH-Px activity, and lipid peroxidation was reduced. These beneficial effects of MFP on hyperlipidaemia rats might be attributed to its dietary fiber, fatty acids, phenolics, flavonoids, anthocyanins, vitamins and trace elements content.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antioxidants / chemistry
  • Antioxidants / pharmacology*
  • Ascorbic Acid / analysis
  • Body Weight / drug effects
  • Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid
  • Dietary Fiber / analysis
  • Dietary Supplements
  • Fatty Acids / blood
  • Flavonols / analysis
  • Fruit / chemistry
  • Hyperlipidemias / blood
  • Hyperlipidemias / drug therapy*
  • Hypolipidemic Agents / chemistry
  • Hypolipidemic Agents / pharmacology*
  • Lipid Peroxidation / drug effects
  • Lipids / blood
  • Male
  • Morus / chemistry*
  • Phenols / analysis
  • Rats
  • Rats, Wistar
  • Thiobarbituric Acid Reactive Substances / analysis
  • Vitamin E / analysis

Substances

  • Antioxidants
  • Dietary Fiber
  • Fatty Acids
  • Flavonols
  • Hypolipidemic Agents
  • Lipids
  • Phenols
  • Thiobarbituric Acid Reactive Substances
  • Vitamin E
  • Ascorbic Acid