Antioxidants in Fig (Ficus carica L.) and their Effects in the Prevention of Atherosclerosis in Hamsters

Abstract

Phenolics are an important constituent of fruit quality because of their contribution to the taste, color and nutritional properties of fruit. This study aimed to determine the level of phenolics in fig. In addition, it is also to study their impact on early atherosclerosis. The used methodology was by feeding 30 hamsters which were grouped into three groups. Each group has equally of 10 hamsters. These three groups were fed standard diet, atherogenic diet, atherogenic diet with dried fig (0.6 gm/ kg body weight). During 8 weeks of this study trial, hamster body weight and its liver weight were measured. Subsequently, blood samples were collected for the following tests which are; total cholesterol level, High Density Lipoprotein Cholesterol (HLD), low Density Lipoprotein Cholesterol (LDL), Triglycerides (TG) and liver enzymes Aspartate amino transferase (AST), Alanine amino transferase (ALT). The analysed phenolics present at the highest content were gallic acid (30.99 mg per 100 g DW), followed by epigallocatechine (25.44 mg per 100 g DW), caffeine (20.23 mg per 100 g DW), catechine (13.88 mg per 100 g DW), epicatechine (12.48 mg per 100 g DW), rutin (3.26 mg per 100 g DW), epigallocatechine gallate (2.52 mg per 100 g DW). Significant increases in body weight and liver weight of hamsters fed atherogenic diet (P<0.05). On contrary, hamsters fed with fig diet they had insignificant decrease of body weight with significant decrease of their liver weight. Additionally, study has revealed significant increase of total cholesterol level, LDL, and TG among atherogenic diet group (P < 0.05). While hamster group fed with fig in diet showed a significantly decreased in the total cholesterol level, LDL, and TG. The HDL level was improved in the former group. However, liver enzymes (AST), (ALT) were increased significantly among group which was fed by atherogenic diet. But they were significantly decreased (P < 0.05) among those hamsters fed by fig.