Efficacy of different fractions of Anethum graveolens leaves on serum lipoproteins and serum and liver oxidative status in experimentally induced hypercholesterolaemic rat models.

Over the last few years, many studies have focused on plants with therapeutic properties. Anethum graveolens L. (Umbilliferae) is used as an anti-hypercholesterolaemic plant in Iranian folk medicine. This study was to disclose the antioxidant and hypolipidaemic properties of different fractions of the Anethum graveolens extract (AGE), evaluated in hypercholesterolaemic rats. The animals were divided into five groups, Group I served as healthy control; groups II to V were made hypercholesterolaemic by feeding high-fat diet (HFD) for 3 weeks. After induction of hypercholesterolaemia, the rats in groups III to V received different fractions [diethyl ether (EEF), ethyl acetate (EAF) and water (WF) fractions, respectively] of the AGE at a dose of 50 mg/kg body weight per day for 2 weeks. Feeding HFD increased serum total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG) and LDL-cholesterol significantly in Group II as compared to Group I. Treatments of rats with fractions EEF, EAF and WF caused a significant decrease in TC, TG and LDL-C levels by (53.8, 49.9 and 42.3%), (51.5, 38.45 and 30.5%) and (54.8, 51.4 and 41.8%), respectively, however the HDL-cholesterol level was increased. In an effort to gain some knowledge about the mechanism of action, the effects of different fractions on oxidative stress induced by HFD were also investigated. Treatment with different fractions of AGE significantly increased hepatic antioxidant system activities such as SOD, CAT and GSH, along with decreased lipid peroxidation in HFD treated rats. Among these fractions, EEF showed the highest and WF showed the lowest increase in the above mentioned factors. Based on these results, it can be concluded that different fractions of AGE especially EEF, besides its hypolipidaemic property, could protect the liver against the HFD-induced oxidative damage in rats.