Effect of Feeding Plant Polyphenolics on Fatty Acid Composition, Vitamin E Level and Degree of Lipid Peroxidation in Rat Organs.

Abstract

The present study was undertaken in order to evaluate the effect of feeding plant polyphenolics on fatty acid composition, the vitamin E level and degree of lipid peroxidation in rat organs. Male Wistar rats were fed a diet containing safflower or fish oil at 50g/kg diet and vitamin E at 59mg/kg diet in the absence and presence of plant polyphenolics at 7.5g/kg diet for 6 wk. Fatty acid composition of total lipids, vitamin E levels, the levels of phospholipid hydroperoxides and the levels of thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances (TBARS) in the TBA assay with butylated hydroxytoluene in each organ were measured. Feeding plant polyphenolics decreased the level of arachidonate content in the liver of rats fed safflower oil. Comsumption of vitamin E in heart, lung and testies was slightly prevented, but that in stomach was enchanced by feeding plant polyphenolics in both safflower and fish oil diet groups. Phospholipid hydroperoxide levels in brain and liver of rats fed both safflower and fish oil were lowered, whereas those in lung, kidney and spleen of rats fed both the oils were greatly increased by feeding plant polyphenolics. In determination of the hydroperoxides, the possibility that the values include artificial ones associated with sample handling cannot be excluded. TBARS levels in brain of the fish oil diet group and in liver of both tha safflower and fish oil diet groups were decreased, but those in heart, lung and kidney in both the safflower and fish oil diet groups and those in spleen in the safflower oil diet group were increased by feeding plant polyphenolics. It is likely that feeding plant polyphenolics had little effect in preventing lipid peroxidation in rat organs.