Hypolipemiant and antioxidant effects of Eugenia brasiliensis in an animal model of coconut oil-induced hypertriglyceridemia.

ABSTRACT

We investigated the effects of chronic administration of crude hydroalcoholic extract (CHE) and crude acetone extract (CAE) obtained from leaves of Eugenia brasiliensis species on hypertriglyceridemia and oxidative stress caused by the chronic administration of coconut oil. Rats received CHE or CAE (50, 100 or 150mg/kg, orally) for 30days, plus coconut oil (2mL, orally) or saline for 15th. Triglyceride levels, liver cell lipid accumulation, thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBA-RS), total sulfhydryl content and the activities of antioxidant enzymes catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) were evaluated in the blood and liver of rats. Results showed that chronic administration of CHE or CAE was able to prevent hypertriglyceridemia and decrease the lipid droplets in liver cells, as well as the increase in TBA-RS, the reduction in total sulfhydryl content and CAT activity in the blood and prevent total or partial the increase in CAT and reduction in SOD and GSH-Px activities in the liver. These findings indicate that both extracts may have hypolipidemic and antioxidant effects.