Anthocyanin-rich red cabbage (Brassica oleracea L.) extract attenuates cardiac and hepatic oxidative stress in rats fed an atherogenic diet.

BACKGROUND

Oxidative stress induced by reactive oxygen species plays an important role in the aetiology of several diseases including atherosclerosis and coronary heart disease. Anthocyanin-rich extracts have been shown to possess a variety of therapeutic roles, including antioxidant, cardioprotective and hepatoprotective properties. The present inventory was undertaken to evaluate the protective role of anthocyanin-rich red cabbage extract (ARCE) on an atherogenic (ATH) diet-induced hypercholesterolaemia and related cardiac and, hepatic oxidative stress in rats.

RESULTS

ARCE (100 mg kg(-1) body weight) treatment of rats fed the ATH diet significantly prevented elevation in serum and tissue lipids, circulating levels of cardiac and hepatic damage markers, and resulted in excretion of lipids through faeces. Also, the ARCE extract significantly attenuated alterations in the cardiac and hepatic antioxidants and lipid peroxidation, and histopathological changes in cardiac and hepatic tissue.

CONCLUSION

Thus, the present study provides the first scientific evidence for a protective role of ARCE against ATH diet-induced hypercholesterolaemia and cardiac and hepatic oxidative stress.