Abstract
The seed powder of desert rose was orally supplemented in the diet to hypercholesterolemic male rats for 8 weeks to test its effect as an antioxidant and hypolipidemic. Eighteen rats were divided into three groups (n=6); the first group was the negative untreated control group, the second group was fed 2% cholesterol in the diet to induce hypercholesterolemia (positive control) and the third group was fed 2% cholesterol and cotreated with 100 mg/kg body weight desert rose seed. The positive control group showed a significant increase in lipid peroxide, lipid profile parameters, liver enzymes, and kidney function parameters and a significant decrease in antioxidant enzymes; glutathione reduced (GSH), serum glutathione reductase (GR) and serum superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity in the serum and kidney and liver tissue homogenate. Furthermore, liver, kidney, heart and testes tissues showed pathological changes compared with that of the negative control group. Treating the hypercholesterolemic rats with desert rose seeds for 8 weeks ameliorated the antioxidant enzyme activity, liver and kidney functions, and decreased lipid peroxidation. It was also restored the histology of the studied organs to their normal state. The desert rose seeds powder has hypolipidemic and antioxidant activity on hypercholesterolemic male rats. Desert rose seeds have also improved the tissues of the target organs in hypercholesterolemic rats under study.