An experimental evaluation of the anti-atherogenic potential of the plant, Piper betle , and its active constitutent, eugenol, in rats fed an atherogenic diet

• Published in: Biomedicine & pharmacotherapy 2016-05, Vol.80, p.276-288
• Main Authors: Venkadeswaran, Karuppasamy, Thomas, Philip A, Geraldine, Pitchairaj
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Animals; Antioxidant; Antioxidants - metabolism; Aorta, Thoracic - drug effects; Aorta, Thoracic - pathology; Atherogenic diet; Atherosclerosis; Atherosclerosis - blood; Atherosclerosis - drug therapy; Biomarkers - blood; Cholesterol - metabolism; Diet, Atherogenic; Eugenol; Eugenol - pharmacology; Eugenol - therapeutic use; Feeding Behavior; Internal Medicine; Liver - drug effects; Liver - enzymology; Liver - metabolism; Liver - pathology; Male; Malondialdehyde - metabolism; Medical Education; Oxidative stress; Phytotherapy; Piper betle; Piper betle - chemistry; Rats, Wistar
• ISSN: 0753-3322; 1950-6007
• DOI: 10.1016/j.biopha.2016.03.028

Abstract Hypercholesterolemia is a major risk factor for systemic atherosclerosis and subsequent cardiovascular disease. Lipoperoxidation-mediated oxidative damage is believed to contribute strongly to the progression of atherogenesis. In the current investigation, putative anti-atherogenic and antioxidative properties of an ethanolic extract of Piper betle and of its active constituent, eugenol, were sought in an experimental animal model of chronic hypercholesterolemia. Atherogenic diet-fed rats that received either Piper betle extract orally (500 mg/kg b.wt) or eugenol orally (5 mg/kg b.wt) for 15 days (commencing 30 days after the atherogenic diet had been started) exhibited the following variations in different parameters, when compared to atherogenic diet-fed rats that received only saline: (1) significantly lower mean levels of total cholesterol, triglycerides, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol and very low density lipoprotein cholesterol in both serum and hepatic tissue samples; (2) lower mean serum levels of aspartate amino-transferase, alanine amino-transferase, alkaline phosphatase, lactate dehydrogenase and lipid-metabolizing enzymes (lipoprotein lipase, 3-hydroxy-3-methyl-glutaryl-CoA reductase; (3) significantly lower mean levels of enzymatic antioxidants (catalase, superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase, glutathione- S -transferase) and non-enzymatic antioxidants (reduced glutathione, vitamin C and vitamin E) and significantly higher mean levels of malondialdehyde in haemolysate and hepatic tissue samples. Histopathological findings suggested a protective effect of the Piper betle extract and a more pronounced protective effect of eugenol on the hepatic and aortic tissues of atherogenic diet-fed (presumed atherosclerotic) rats. These results strongly suggest that the Piper betle extract and its active constituent, eugenol, exhibit anti-atherogenic effects which may be due to their anti-oxidative properties.