Abstract
Rosmarinic acid is found in medicinal and spice plants such as rosemary, lemon balm, and mint. The aim of the study was to investigate the effect of rosmarinic acid on parameters of glucose and lipid metabolism and parameters of oxidative stress in rats in the early phase of estrogen deficiency. The study was carried out on mature female Wistar rats divided into the following groups: sham-operated control rats, ovariectomized control rats, and ovariectomized rats treated orally with rosmarinic acid at a dose of 10 mg/kg or 50 mg/kg daily for 28 days. The concentration of sex hormones, parameters related to glucose and lipid metabolism as well as parameters of antioxidant abilities and oxidative damage were determined in the blood serum. In the ovariectomized control rats, the homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) index and cholesterol concentration increased, the superoxide dismutase activity increased, and the reduced glutathione concentration decreased. Administration of rosmarinic acid at both doses induced decreases in the fructosamine concentration and HOMA-IR, an increase in the concentration of reduced glutathione, and a decrease in the concentration of advanced oxidation protein products in ovariectomized rats. Moreover, rosmarinic acid at a dose of 50 mg/kg induced a decrease in the total cholesterol and triglyceride concentrations. The results indicate that rosmarinic acid may be useful in the prevention of metabolic disorders associated with estrogen deficiency, however further studies are necessary.
Highlights
Estrogen deficiency leads to numerous metabolic disorders, including, among others, adverse changes in lipid profile and insulin resistance [1,2]
The animals were divided into 4 groups (n = 10): sham-operated control rats (SHAM); ovariectomized control rats (OVX); ovariectomized rats treated with rosmarinic acid at a dose of 10 mg/kg daily (OVX + RA10); ovariectomized rats treated with rosmarinic acid at a dose of
As was previously reported [18], estrogen deficiency induced by ovariectomy caused a statistically significant increase in the body mass (Figure 1) and body mass gain, a decrease in the uterine mass and an increase in the thymus mass, without affecting the liver and kidney mass compared to the sham-operated control rats
Summary
Estrogen deficiency leads to numerous metabolic disorders, including, among others, adverse changes in lipid profile and insulin resistance [1,2]. The consequence of these disorders is the development of cardiovascular diseases, which are the cause of 49% of deaths in women in Europe [3]. Observations from the 1990s suggested that the use of hormone replacement therapy (HRT) in postmenopausal women prevents cardiovascular diseases [4,5], but later studies conducted as part of the Women’s Health Initiative study indicated the connection between HRT and an increased risk of venous thromboembolism, stroke, coronary heart disease and breast cancer [6]. Postmenopausal women use Nutrients 2019, 11, 267; doi:10.3390/nu11020267 www.mdpi.com/journal/nutrients
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