Abstract
Obtusifolin, an anthraquinone from Cassia obtusifolia seeds, has been reported to reduce blood lipid levels in diabetic rats induced by
streptozocin. However, it remains unclear whether obtusifolin possesses a lipid-lowering
effect on hyperlipidemia caused by a high-fat diet. Moreover, hyperlipidemia is known
to impair the endothelial function by causing oxidative stress. Therefore, in the
present study, we investigated the antidyslipidemic and antioxidant effects of obtusifolin
in hyperlipidemic rats induced by a high-fat diet. Rats with oral fat emulsion were
used as our hyperlipidemic model. We measured the body weight of the rats, serum total
cholesterol, triglycerides, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and high-density
lipoprotein cholesterol, as well as nitric oxide, malondialdehyde, and superoxide
dismutase. Our results showed that oral obtusifolin application significantly reversed
the changes induced by hyperlipidemia in body weight, total cholesterol, triglyceride,
low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol. Furthermore,
obtusifolin treatment increased serum superoxide dismutase and nitric oxide, but reduced
malondialdehyde. Collectively, our findings suggest that obtusifolin may improve hyperlipidemia
by enhancing antioxidant activity. This study indicates a potential therapeutic importance
of obtusifolin for ameliorating lipid dysfunction induced by a high-fat diet.
Key words
Cassia obtusifolia
- obtusifolin - hyperlipidemia - high-fat diet - antioxidation
