Effect of Echinacea purpurea and Silybum marianum seeds on the body of rats with an excessive fat diet

Abstract

The impact of excess fat and high-calorie intake on the human body is an acute problem for many economically developed countries. Modelling the effects on the health of rats of supplementing their diet with crushed seeds of Echinacea purpurea (L.) Moench and Sylibum marianum (L.) Gaertn was carried out in a laboratory experiment. In the control group of animals, body weight increased by 700 mg/day, with the addition of E. purpurea seeds – by 1394 mg/day and with the addition of S. marianum seeds – by only 155 mg/day. A hypercaloric diet supplemented with E. purpurea caused a significant decrease in the relative weight of the liver, thymus, spleen, stomach, and brain. The supplementation with S. marianum seeds to the diet of animals significantly reduced only the relative weight of the thymus. Adding E. purpurea to the diet caused a strong increase in blood alkaline phosphatase activity, an increase in the cholesterol content, and a sharp increase in the atherogenic index. The seeds of S. marianum increased the alkaline phosphatase activity, reduced the glucose concentration, and triglycerides, significantly reduced the atherogenic index and lowered the C-reactive protein concentration in the rats’ blood when compared with the control group. The seeds of E. purpurea contributed to an increase in the erythrocyte and lymphocyte number in the blood, and the seeds of S. marianum – to a decrease in the thrombocyte concentration. The research results show the possibility of wider use of S. marianum fruits as a dietary supplement in the diet of patients with hypertension and impaired liver function.