Abstract
Alcoholic leaf and petal fractions of Taraxacum officinale (dandelion) were previously demonstrated to exert in vitro antioxidant and antithrombotic activities in blood plasma and platelets. Eight-week-old male Wistar rats (n = 6) were supplemented for four weeks with dandelion fractions (694 mg/kg of diet = 11.9 ± 0.6 mg daily). Dandelion leaf and petal fractions, which delivered daily 4.10 ± 0.05 and 1.41 ± 0.07 mg l-chicoric acid, respectively, were shown to exert antioxidative actions, measured as decreased levels of thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances (TBARS) in the spleen (≈0.8-fold, leaves and petals), brain (0.53-fold, leaves) and thoracic arteries (0.59-fold, petals). Moreover, petal fraction increased thiols in the blood plasma (1.58-fold), while leaf fraction decreased protein carbonylation levels (0.59-fold). Additionally, dandelion leaf fractions modified the lipid profile: decreased triglyceride (0.44-fold), total cholesterol (0.73-fold), lipoprotein combine index (0.32-fold) and the atherogenic index of plasma (0.62-fold). Dandelion fractions showed a beneficial decrease effect in the participation of cyclooxygenase products in the noradrenaline-induced vascular contractions of thoracic arteries. Meanwhile, only the dandelion leaf fraction augmented acetylcholine-induced vasodilation and upregulated KATP channels. The heart rate and blood pressure were not modified. Dandelion leaf and petal phenolic fractions, enriched with l-chicoric acid, are promising plant materials that may exert in vivo beneficial antioxidant effects.
Highlights
IntroductionOxidative stress associated with the presence of an excess of pro-oxidants, including free radicals, can cause oxidative modifications of lipids and proteins in the components of the hemostatic system (blood plasma and platelets) and can increase its reactivity (increased clotting)
Oxidative stress associated with the presence of an excess of pro-oxidants, including free radicals, can cause oxidative modifications of lipids and proteins in the components of the hemostatic system and can increase its reactivity
With increasing evidence of the protective potential of dandelion fractions on the antioxidant status but with scarce data concerning its properties in the systemic vasculature, we aimed to examine whether dandelion fractions from leaves and petals influence, in the same way (i) the antioxidant profile; (ii) modify the blood plasma lipids; (iii) glucose and (iv) the intestinal digesta
Summary
Oxidative stress associated with the presence of an excess of pro-oxidants, including free radicals, can cause oxidative modifications of lipids and proteins in the components of the hemostatic system (blood plasma and platelets) and can increase its reactivity (increased clotting). The dandelion (Taraxacum officinale) herb and root are used as a component of food products, dietary supplements and pharmacological preparations for various ailments (mainly liver, gallbladder and kidney disorders) [8,9]. This is due to a wide range of biological activities, including antihyperglycemic, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory actions demonstrated by dandelion fractions and their constituents, with no reported adverse effects, together with a well-understood chemical composition and a widespread occurrence of the plant throughout the world [10,11]. Aqueous-organic extracts from the dandelion herb were found to exert an anti-inflammatory action [12], mainly due to decreasing the expression of proinflammatory cytokines by inhibiting the nuclear factor (NF)-κB [13], tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α and interleukin (IL)-1β [14], as well as reducing the expression and production of inducible nitric oxide synthase/nitric oxide (iNOS/NO) and cyclooxygenase (COX)-2/prostaglandin E2 [15]
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