The role of dates (phoenix dactylifera)‎ aqueous extract in improving the plasma lipid profiles of diet-induced hypercholesterolemic rabbits

Abstract EN

The influence of dates extract on lipid profile and atherosclerotic lesion formation in hypercholesterolemic induced rabbit were investigated.

Forty-nine male New Zealand White rabbits were divided into seven groups.

The normal control (NC) group, Hypercholesterolemic control (HC) group was given O.5% Cholesterol diet, Simvastatin control (SC) group was given 0.5% cholesterol diet + 5mg/kg simvastatin.

Treatment groups T125, T250, T500 and T1000, were given 0.5% cholesterol diet with supplementation 0f 125, 250, 500 and 1000 mg/kg of dates extract respectively for 10 weeks.

Blood was collected from ear vein for plasma analysis and the whole aortas were excised for microscopy study.

The supplementation of 125 and 250 mg/kg of date extract reduced plasma total cholesterol (TC), low-density lipoprotein (LDL) and triglycerides (TG) levels concomitantly groups supplemented with date extract (T125, T250, T500 and T1000) were significantly higher (P<0.05) in high density lipoprotein اولآو) in diet induced hypercholesterolemic rabbit.

The atherogenic index (AI) and sdLDL values were found to be lower in date extract treated groups compared to HC (P<0.05).

The plasma total antioxidant activity in groups treated with date extract (T125, T250, T500 and T1000) were significantly higher (P<0.05) in compared to HC group at week 10.

No foam cell formation was visible in the aorta of rabbits in NC and T250 groups.

However, there was visible foam cell formation in the aorta of groups HC, SC, T125, T500 and T1000.

Results showed that plasma lipid concentration was significantly reduced at the end of experiment in groups supplemented with date extract.