Effect of Alhagi Maurorum or Gloularia Alypum On Lipid Profile of Experimentally Induced Hypercholesteremic Rats and On Blood Pressure of Experimentally Induced Hypertensive Rats
Effect of Alhagi Maurorum or Gloularia Alypum On Lipid Profile of Experimentally Induced Hypercholesteremic Rats and On Blood Pressure of Experimentally Induced Hypertensive Rats
Effect of Alhagi Maurorum or Gloularia Alypum On Lipid Profile of Experimentally Induced Hypercholesteremic Rats and On Blood Pressure of Experimentally Induced Hypertensive Rats
Original article
Copyright © 2022 Othman et al. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License,
which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
Abstract: In some countries, a high percentage of the population relies on traditional plants for treating certain
diseases. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of G. alypum extract (GAE) and Alhagj marorum
extract (AME) on lipid profiles in experimentally induced hypercholesteremic rats and on the blood pressure of
experimentally induced hypertensive rats. Male Wistar rats weighing 200 - 300 g were divided into five groups:
group 1 received a normal diet (negative control), group 2 received a high lipid diet containing coconut oil (10
g/kg/day), cholesterol (4 g/kg/day) and cholic acid (0.20 g/kg/day) (positive control), group 3 received a high
lipid diet together with clofibrate (50 mg/kg/day), group 4 received a high lipid diet together with AME (200
mg/kg/day) and group 5 received GAE (200 mg/kg/day). The experiment continued for two weeks, then the rats
were sacrificed and blood samples were collected for estimation of cholesterol, triglycerides, high-density
lipoprotein and low-density lipoprotein. To induce hypertension, rats were divided into two groups (n = 8 in each
group). Group 1 received normal saline (control) and Group 2 received dexamethasone (0.40 mg/kg, i.p.) for
seven consecutive days. Later, the rats were anesthetized using thiopental and the carotid artery was cannulated
for recording blood pressure. AME (40 mg/kg) or GAE (40 mg/kg) were injected through a cannula placed into
the internal jugular vein at a dose volume of 0.1 ml. Systolic and diastolic blood pressure were measured before
and after plant extract administration. The results showed that clofibrate GAE extract and ANE extract
significantly decreased cholesterol, triglycerides, low-density lipoprotein and high-density lipoprotein as
compared to high-lipid diet-treated rats. Data also indicated that administration of GAE or AME extract
significantly decreased systolic and diastolic blood pressure in experimentally induced hypertensive rats. In
conclusion, GAE and AME have antihyperlipidemic and antihypertensive activities and further investigation is
needed to clarify the mechanism of these effects.
Othman et al. (2022) Mediterr J Pharm Pharm Sci. 2(4): 31-38. 31-38
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Mediterranean Journal of Pharmacy & Pharmaceutical Sciences
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frequently abnormal among hypertensive patients density lipoproteins (HDL) and low-density
than in the general population [21 - 24]. It is lipoproteins (LDL) [25].
something worth searching for a plant that treats high Effect of GAE and AME extracts on blood pressure
blood pressure and a high lipid profile at the same of hypertensive rats: To induce hypertension, rats
time. Therefore, the aim of this study is to investigate were divided into two groups, each of eight rats, the
the effect of GA and AM extracts in experimentally first group received normal saline (control), the
induced hypertensive and hyperlipidemic animals. second group received dexamethasone (0.4 mg/kg
i.p.) and for seven consecutive days later, they were
Materials and methods anaesthetized using thiopental. The carotid artery
Experimental animals: In this study, male Albino was cannulated and a pressure transducer displayed
Wister rats weighing 250 - 300 gm were used. Rats on the Washington 400 MD was used to record blood
were obtained from the local Central Animal House, pressure. AME (40 mg/kg) or GAE alypum (40
University of Benghazi, Benghazi, Libya. Rats were mg/kg) were injected through a cannula placed into
kept in standard laboratory conditions (12 hours of the internal jugular vein in a dose volume of 0.1 ml.
light, 12 hours of darkness, and 22 ± 2.0 0C). The rats Systolic and diastolic blood pressure were measured
were fed standard commercial laboratory chow and before and after plant extract administration.
were allowed to adapt to new housing environment
condition for one week before treatment. Statistical analysis: Data were expressed by using
descriptive analysis as means ± standard error of
Preparation of plant extract: Aerial parts of the plant
mean. A test of significance was carried out using
were collected from the Gabal al Khater area and
one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA). The degree
identified by the Department of Botany, Faculty of
of significance was determined by using Less
Science, University of Benghazi, Benghazi, Libya.
Significant Difference (LSD) and a student t-test for
The plant parts were washed, dried, powdered and
the dependent sample. A p < 0.05 was considered
extracted with different solvents, starting with non-
significant.
polar ones and ending with polar ones (petroleum
ether, chloroform, ethylacetate, ethanol and water
using the Soxhlet apparatus). The ethanolic extract Results
was used during experiments. Data presented in Table 1 showed that the level of
cholesterol was significantly decreased (p < 0.05) in
Effect of camel thorn on the serum lipid level: Rats
the animals that received, high lipid diet plus
were divided into five groups, the first group
clofibrate, high lipid diet plus GAE (200 mg/kg/day)
received normal diet and water ad libitum (negative
and a high lipid diet plus AME (200 mg/kg/day),
control), the second group received a high-lipid diet
respectively, as compared to the animal that received
containing coconut oil (10 g/kg/day), cholesterol (4
high lipid diet alone. The level of TG was
g/kg/day) and cholic acid (0.2 g/kg/day) (positive
significantly (p < 0.05) decreased in animals that
control), the third group received a high-lipid diet
received a high lipid diet plus GAE and a high lipid
together with clofibrate (50 mg/kg/day) in water; the
diet plus AME, respectively, as compared to the
fourth group received a high-lipid diet together with
control group, and the effect of the clofibrate-treated
AME (200 mg/kg/day) in water and the fifth group
group on TG level was more pronounced.
received GAE (200 mg/kg/day) in water. The
experiment continued for two weeks, then the The low-density lipoprotein (LDL) and high-density
animals were sacrificed for blood collection and lipoprotein (HDL) were significantly lower (p <
estimation of cholesterol, triglycerides (TG), high- 0.05) in all groups as compared to the group
receiving the high-lipid diet alone. The ratios of
Othman et al. (2022) Mediterr J Pharm Pharm Sci. 2(4): 31-38. 31-38
Mediterranean Journal of Pharmacy & Pharmaceutical Sciences
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HDL/LDL in the control group, the high-lipid diet, the control group (3.4), the high lipid diet plus GAE
the high lipid diet plus clofibrate, the high lipid diet treated animals (3.4) and the group receiving high
plus GAE, and the high-lipid diet plus AME were lipid diet plus AME (2.8), respectively, as compared
3.4, 1.4, 1.41, 3.4 and 3.8, respectively. Data shows to the high lipid group (1.41) and high lipid diet plus
that this ratio was significantly higher (p < 0.05) in clofibrate treated animals (1.41).
Table 1: Lipid profile in high lipid diet, high lipid diet plus clofibrate, high lipid diet plus
G. alypum extract and high lipid diet plus alhagi marorum extract treated rats
Treatment Cholesterol Triglycerides LDL HDL HDL/LDL
Data in Table 2, showed the systolic blood pressure before and after administration of dexamethasone
(BP) before and after treatment with dexamethasone were 115 ± 4.0 and 165 ± 7.0 mmHg, respectively,
(0.4 mg/kg), daily was 115 ± 4.0 and 165 ± 7.0. This where the diastolic blood pressure before and after
indicates a significant increase in systolic blood administration of dexamethasone was 65 ± 3.0 and
pressure due to the administration of dexamethasone 116 ± 6.0 mmHg, respectively. Results of Table 3
(p < 0.05). Data in Table 2, showed that treatment of indicated that administration of GAE (40 mg/kg, IV)
rats with dexamethasone (0.40 mg/kg/day) causes a or AME (40 mg/kg, IV), significantly (p < 0.05)
significant increase in systolic and diastolic blood lowers the systolic and diastolic blood pressure.
pressure (p < 0.05). The systolic blood pressure
Table 2: Systolic and diastolic blood pressure before and seven weeks after treatment with dexamethasone
Blood Before administration of Seven weeks after
pressure dexamethasone (Control) dexamethasone administration
Systolic 115 ± 4.0 165 ± 7.0*
Diastolic 065 ± 3.0 116 ± 6.0*
*Significantly higher as compared to the corresponding control (p < 0.05)
Table 3: Effect of G. alypum extract and alhagi marorum on the systolic and diastolic
pressure of experimentally induced-hypertensive rats
Treatment
Before treatment (control) G. alypum extract Alhagi Marorum extract
Systolic blood pressure 165 ± 7.0 130 ± 5.0* 120 ± 5.0*
Diastolic blood pressure 116 ± 6.0 71 ± 4.0* 70 ± 4.0*
*Significantly different from the control group (p < 0.05)
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Mediterranean Journal of Pharmacy & Pharmaceutical Sciences
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As indicated in Table 4, the percentage of the decrease in diastolic blood pressure was 39.65% and
decrease in systolic blood pressure was 27.27% and 38.8% in the animal treated with GAE or AME. The
21.21% after administration of GAE or AME, decrease in the diastolic blood pressure was more
respectively. Whereas, the percentage of the pronounced than the decrease in systolic BP.
.
Table 4: Effect of G. alypum extract and alhagi marorum extract on systolic and
diastolic pressure of experimentally induced-hypertensive rats
Treatment % of decrease in systolic % of decrease in diastolic
blood pressure blood pressure
G. alypum extract 27.27 39.65
Alhagi marorum extract 21.21 38.80
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HDL/LDL ratio in rats that received a diet rich in morbidity and mortality in the health sector. The use
lipids; however, clofibrate failed to normalize the of diuretics, angiotensin-converting enzyme
HDL/LDL ratio. inhibitors, beta-adrenergic receptor antagonists (beta
blockers), alpha-adrenergic receptor antagonists
Medicinal plants have always been considered a
(alpha-blockers), calcium channel blockers, etc. is
healthy source of treatment due to their therapeutic
not efficient enough to cure hypertension. Side
effect and safety. Different medicinal plant remedies
effects from these medications cause intolerance,
were used to treat hyperlipidemia, it decreased blood
impaired disease control and therapy
lipids by many mechanisms, including inhibition of
mismanagement. As a result, the approach to
the expression of fatty acid synthase, decreasing free
quenching new potent therapeutic compounds from
fatty acid release, inhibition of HMG-CoA reductase,
medicinal plants is gaining attention [39, 40].
increasing the fecal excretion of fat and cholesterol,
According to El-debani et al. [41], 0.4 mg daily dose
inhibition of the activity of pancreatic lipase, and
of dexamethasone for seven days was required to
inhibition of cholesterol absorption [35 - 37]. Plants
induce hypertension in rats experimentally. Findings
have hypolipidemic activity, which means they can
in this study showed that treatment of rats with 0.4
significantly lower total lipid levels, total cholesterol
mg/kg of dexamethasone, significantly increased
levels, LDL levels, TG levels, and raise HDL levels.
systolic and diastolic blood pressure. Our results also
Demand is increasing in the world for the use of
showed that GAE or AME significantly decreased
natural plants as medicine with hypoglycemic and
the systolic and diastolic blood pressure, and the
hypolipidemic effects on patients. We should adopt
percentage of the decrease in diastolic blood pressure
a new approach to studying plant components that
was more pronounced than the decrease in systolic.
are phytochemically active and study their molecular
The mechanism of these plants' antihypertensive
interactions with diseases. The hypolipidemic
activity is unknown, as many other plants have
activity that is present in most Medicinal plants is
antihypertensive activity. Sultana and Asif [40]
strongly associated with new drug development
reported that many secondary metabolites in these
which will be used for high lipid profiles and
medicinal plants, such as flavonoids, alkaloids,
cardiovascular diseases [38]. Medicinal plants are
tannins, and terpenoids, have been found in vivo to
extensively used in traditional folk medicine.
have antihypertensive effects.
Hypertension, or high blood pressure, is a medical
condition that accounts for 9.4 million deaths all over
Conclusion: This study concludes that both GLE and
the world every year. High blood pressure is
AME may have antihyperlipidemic and antihyper-
associated with the risk of cardiovascular diseases
tensive effects and further studies are recommended
and many other serious health complications
to determine the mechanism behind these effects.
resulting from them, which is a major concern for
Author contributions: All authors have contributed significantly and have drafting, revising as well as approved the final version
of the manuscript and agreed to be accountable for its contents.
Conflict of interest: The authors declare absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential
conflict of interest.
Ethical issues: Including plagiarism, informed consent, data fabrication or falsification and double publication or submission have
completely been observed by authors.
Data availability statement: The raw data that support the findings of this article are available from the corresponding author upon
reasonable request.
Author declarations: The authors confirm that all relevant ethical guidelines have been followed and any necessary IRB and/or
ethics committee approvals have been obtained.
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