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Hypolipidaemic and hepatoprotective effects of ethanolic and aqueous extracts from Asparagus officinalis L. by‐products in mice fed a high‐fat diet
Author(s) -
Zhu Xinglei,
Zhang Wen,
Zhao Jingjing,
Wang Jiesi,
Qu Weijing
Publication year - 2010
Publication title -
journal of the science of food and agriculture
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.782
H-Index - 142
eISSN - 1097-0010
pISSN - 0022-5142
DOI - 10.1002/jsfa.3923
Subject(s) - officinalis , asparagus , malondialdehyde , chemistry , antioxidant , food science , cholesterol , lipid profile , functional food , high density lipoprotein , asparagus racemosus , blood lipids , traditional medicine , biochemistry , biology , medicinal plants , medicine , botany
BACKGROUND: Asparagus ( Asparagus officinalis L.) by‐products, i.e. the parts of the spears discarded during industrial processing, might have potential use as food supplements for their therapeutic effects. In this study the hypolipidaemic and hepatoprotective effects of ethanolic (EEA) and aqueous (AEA) extracts from asparagus by‐products were evaluated in mice fed a high‐fat diet (HFD). RESULTS: Continuous HFD feeding caused obvious hyperlipidaemia and liver damage in mice. However, both EEA and AEA significantly decreased the levels of body weight gain, serum total cholesterol and serum low‐density lipoprotein cholesterol in hyperlipidaemic mice when administered at a daily dose of 200 mg kg −1 for 8 weeks. Also, serum high‐density lipoprotein cholesterol levels were evidently increased in the AEA‐treated group. Moreover, both EEA and AEA dramatically decreased the activities of alanine and aspartate transaminases in serum. Finally, superoxide dismutase activity and total antioxidant capacity were increased and malondialdehyde level and the distribution of lipid droplets decreased in liver cells of both EEA‐ and AEA‐treated mice. CONCLUSION: The findings of this study suggest that both EEA and AEA have strong hypolipidaemic and hepatoprotective properties and could be used as supplements in healthcare foods and drugs or in combination with other hypolipidaemic drugs. Copyright © 2010 Society of Chemical Industry