Abstract
Objective: The present study was designed to evaluate the effect of the
aqueous extract of Embelia ribes Burm fruits on
methionine-induced hyperhomocysteinemia, hyperlipidemia and oxidative
stress in albino rats. Materials and Methods: Adult male Wistar albino
rats were fed with the aqueous extract of Embelia ribes (100 and 200
mg/kg, p.o.) for 30 days. Hyperhomocysteinemia was induced by
methionine treatment (1 g/kg, p.o.) for 30 days and folic acid (100
mg/kg, p.o.) was used as a standard drug. The animals were evaluated
for various biochemical parameters in serum and brain homogenates,
followed by histopathological studies at the end of the study.
Results: Administration of methionine (1 g/kg, p.o.) for 30 days to
vehicle control rats produced significant increase (P < 0.01) in
homocysteine, lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), total cholesterol,
triglycerides, low density lipoprotein (LDL-C), very low density
lipoprotein (VLDL-C) levels in serum and lipid peroxides (LPO) levels
in brain homogenates, with reduction in high density lipoprotein
(HDL-C) levels in serum, and glutathione (GSH) content in brain
homogenates, as compared to vehicle control rats. Administration of the
aqueous extract of Embelia ribes (100 and 200 mg/kg, p.o.) for 30 days,
to hyperhomocysteinemic rats, significantly (P < 0.01) decreased the
levels of homocysteine, LDH, total cholesterol, triglycerides, LDL-C
and VLDL-C and increased the HDL-C levels in serum. In addition, a
significant (P < 0.01) decrease in LPO levels with increase in GSH
content was observed in hyperhomocysteinemic rats treated with the
aqueous extract of Embelia ribes. The results were comparable to those
obtained with folic acid, a standard antihyperhomocysteinemic drug.
Conclusion: The present results provide clear evidence that the aqueous
extract of Embelia ribes treatment enhances the antioxidant defense
against methionine-induced hyperhomocysteinemia, hyperlipidemia and
oxidative stress in brain.