Protective effect of Morus rubra L. leaf extract on diet-induced atherosclerosis in diabetic rats.

Abstract

The antiatherosclerotic effect of aqueous leaves extract of Morus rubra was studied in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats fed with atherosclerotic (Ath) diet [1.5 ml olive oil containing 8 mg (3, 20,000 IU) vitamin D2 and 40 mg cholesterol] for 5 consecutive days. A short-term toxicity assessment was also conducted in healthy rats to examine toxic effects of the extract. Oral administration of extract to diabetic rats (100, 200 and 400 mg/kg body weight per day for a period of 30 days) produced significant (p<0.001) fall in fasting blood glucose (FBG) in a dose-dependent manner. Treatment with the extract (400 mg/kg) showed significant (p<0.001) improvement in body weight and serum lipid profile i.e., total cholesterol, triglyceride, HDL-cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol and VLDL-cholesterol, when compared with diabetic control. Endothelial dysfunction parameters (sVCAM-1, Fibrinogen, total NO levels and oxidized LDL), apolipoprotein A and apolipoprotein B were significantly (p<0.001) reversed to near normal, following treatment with the extract. Thus, our study shows that aqueous leaf extract of Morus rubra (400 mg/kg) significantly improves the homeostasis of glucose and fat and possesses significant anti-atherosclerotic activity.

• Authors: Suman Bala Sharma, Reenu Singh Tanwar, A C Rini, Usha Rani Singh, Shipra Gupta, Santosh Kumar Shukla
• Journal: Indian journal of biochemistry & biophysics (Indian J Biochem Biophys) Vol. 47 Issue 1 Pg. 26-31 (Feb 2010) ISSN: 0301-1208 [Print] India
• PMID: 21086751 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Blood Glucose
• Dietary Fats
• Plant Extracts
• Triglycerides

Topics

• Animals
• Atherosclerosis (etiology, prevention & control)
• Blood Glucose (analysis)
• Dietary Fats (administration & dosage)
• Morus (chemistry)
• Plant Extracts (therapeutic use)
• Plant Leaves (chemistry)
• Rats
• Triglycerides (analysis)