Role of lupeol and lupeol linoleate on lipemic-oxidative stress in experimental hypercholesterolemia

Varatharajan Sudhahar, Sekar Ashok Kumar, Palaninathan Varalakshmi

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

81 Scopus citations

Abstract

Epidemiological studies have shown that there is a positive correlation between the incidence of coronary heart disease (CHD) and the blood cholesterol level. To study the effect of plant derived triterpene, lupeol and its ester lupeol linoleate, on blood lipid status and oxidant stress in heart and hemolysate, male albino Wistar rats were fed high cholesterol diet (normal rat chow supplemented with 4% cholesterol and 1% cholic acid; HCD) for 30 days. A significant increase (p < 0.05) in plasma total cholesterol (4.22 fold) and triglycerides (1.7 fold) was observed in HCD fed rats, along with elevated LDL (3.56 fold) and VLDL (1.99 fold) cholesterol and decreased HDL cholesterol (34.14%). Treatment with lupeol and its derivative normalized the lipid profile. The significant increase (p < 0.05) in lipid peroxidation (LPO) was paralleled by significantly diminished (p < 0.05) activities of antioxidant enzymes (SOD, CAT and GPx) and decreased (p < 0.05) concentration of antioxidant molecules (GSH, Vit C and Vit E) in cardiac tissue and hemolysate of HCD fed rats. The oxidative tissue injury in hypercholesterolemic rats was substantiated by the increase in cardiac marker, serum CPK and the drop in its activity in the heart tissue. Lupeol and lupeol linoleate treatment decreased the LPO levels and increased enzymatic and nonenzymatic antioxidants. CPK activity in the treated group was comparable with that of the control. These observations highlight the beneficial effects of the triterpene, lupeol and its linoleate ester derivative, in ameliorating the lipidemic-oxidative abnormalities in the early stage of hypercholesterolemic atherosclerosis.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)1329-1335
Number of pages7
JournalLife sciences
Volume78
Issue number12
DOIs
StatePublished - Feb 16 2006
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Antioxidants
  • Heart
  • Hemolysate
  • Hypercholesterolemia
  • Lipid peroxidation
  • Triterpenes

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General Pharmacology, Toxicology and Pharmaceutics
  • General Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Role of lupeol and lupeol linoleate on lipemic-oxidative stress in experimental hypercholesterolemia'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this