The effect of total extract of Securigera securidaca L. seeds on serum lipid profiles and vascular function in hypercholesterolemic rats

Abstract

Seeds of Securigera securidaca (Fabaceae), also called goat pea, are used for the treatment of disorders such as hyperlipidemia, diabetes, and epilepsy in folk medicine [1]. In this study the effect of total extract of S. securidaca seeds on serum lipid profile and on function of isolated thoracic aorta in high-fat fed rats was investigated. High-fat fed wistar rats received 50–200mg/kg/day of the extract orally for 20 days. At the end of the experiment vena cava vein blood was collected for lipids measurement and then thoracic aorta was excised. The extract in doses of 100 and 200mg/kg/day reduced the level of LDL significantly (p<0.05) from 158±17mg/dl in hypercholesterolemic rats to 107±14 and 99±11mg/dl in treated groups, respectively. These declines were accompanied by a significant reduction of serum triglyceride (p<0.05; max: 40%) and liver deposition of lipids in all treated groups. The extract also produced a marked (p<0.001) antioxidant activity by suppressing the hypercholesterolemia induced elevation of malondialdehyde levels both in serum (max 73%) and liver (max 80%). In hypercholestrolemic group carbachol-induced endothelium-dependant vasodilatation was decreased significantly from 95±12% in control to 34±7% (p<0.001). The extract improved significantly (P<0.01) the endotheliuml-dependant relaxation in hyperlipidemic animals. So that, the maximum relaxation in thoracic aorta isolated from the rats treated by 100mg/kg of the extract was 82±6.5%. The results of this study indicated that the total extract of S. securidaca seeds in addition to having a considerable antioxidant and anti-hyperlipidemic effects, is able to improve vascular endothelium dependent relaxation in hypercholesterolemia.