The hypolipidemic effect of Portulaca oleracea L. stem on hyperlipidemic Wister Albino rats

AbstractPortulaca oleracea has been listed in the World Health Organization as one of the most used medicinal plants. Portulaca oleracea stems (POS) acts about 75% from weight of plant. The production of stems was the most economic between other organs. This study carried out to investigate the hypolipidemic effect of POS preparations. Three preparations of POS were tested: stem powder (POS-powder), stem infusion (POS-infusion) and stem 70% ethanolic extract (POS-ethanolic 70%). POS preparations contained useful components with different proportion such as polyphenolics, flavonoids, alkaloids, tannins, saponins and mucilage. The effect of POS on weight and lipid profile investigated on dietary hyperlipidemic Wister Albino rats fed on hyperlipidemic diet contained 20% fat, 1% cholesterol and 0.25% colic acid. The experimental period was 8-weeks. POS-powder form was supplemented at 10% in hyperlipidemic diet while POS-infusion and POS-ethanolic 70% force fed by 1.0g/kg body weight. The hyperlipidemic model described with elevated weight, feed intake, total cholesterol (TC), total lipids (TL), triglycerides (TG), low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), very low density lipoprotein cholesterol (VLDL-C) levels and risk ratio was significantly, compared with untreated control after 4 and 8weeks. Contrary high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) of hyperlipidemic control was decreased significantly. POS preparations improved all obvious abnormal lipid parameters and risk ratio compared with hyperlipidemic control. The abnormalities, which was shown on liver status of hyperlipidemic rats were ameliorated by administration of POS preparations significantly. Liver histology showed significant improvement after treating hyperlipidemic rats by POS form compared with hyperlipidemic control

Chemical profile of launaea nudicaulis ethanolic extract and its antidiabetic effect in streptozotocin-induced rats

Launaea nudicaulis is used in folk medicine worldwide to treat several diseases. The present study aimed to assess the antidiabetic activity of L. nudicaulis ethanolic extract and its effect on diabetic complications in streptozotocin-induced hyperglycemic rats. The extract was orally administrated at 250 and 500 mg/kg/day for 5-weeks and compared to glibenclamide as a reference drug at a dose of 5 mg/kg/day. Administration of the extract exhibited a potential hypoglycemic effect manifested by a significant depletion of serum blood glucose concurrent with a significant elevation in serum insulin secretion. After 5-weeks, extract at 250 and 500 mg/kg/day decreased blood glucose levels by about 53.8 and 68.1%, respectively, compared to the initial values (p _ 0.05). The extract at the two dosages prevented weight loss of rats from the 2nd week till the end of the experiment, compared to diabetic control rats. The extract further exhibited marked improvement in diabetic complications including liver, kidney and testis performance, oxidative stress, and relative weight of vital organs, with respect to diabetic control. Histopathological examinations confirmed the previous biochemical analysis, where the extract showed a protective effect on the pancreas, liver, kidney, and testis that degenerated in diabetic control rats. To characterize extract composition, UPLC-ESI-qTOF-MS identified 85 chromatographic peaks belonging to flavonoids, phenolics, acyl glycerols, nitrogenous compounds, and fatty acids, with four novel phenolics reported. The potential anti-diabetic effect warrants its inclusion in further studies and or isolation of the main bioactive agent(s)