Antiatherosclerotic Effect of Canarium odontophyllum Miq. Fruit Parts in Rabbits Fed High Cholesterol Diet

Abstract

The effect of C. odontophyllum (CO) fruit parts was investigated in hypercholesterolemic rabbits. Forty-nine rabbits, which were randomly divided into seven groups of seven animals (n = 7), received a diet containing different parts of CO fruit parts for 8 weeks. The groups were as follows: (1) normal diet: NC group and (2) hypercholesterolemic diet: PC, HS (10 mg/kg/day simvastatin), HPO (20 g kg(-1) oil extracted from the pulp of CO), HKO (20 g kg(-1) oil extracted from the kernel of CO), HF (50 g kg(-1) fullfat pulp of CO), and HD (50 g kg(-1) defatted pulp of CO). Among these groups, rabbits receiving defatted pulp of CO showed the greatest cholesterol lowering effect as it had reduced plasma LDL-C, TC, and thiobarbiturate reactive substance (TBARS) levels as well as atherosclerotic plaques. The presence of high dietary fiber and antioxidants activity are potential factors contributing to the cholesterol lowering effect. Consequently, these results indicate the potential use of CO defatted pulp as a cholesterol lowering and antioxidant agent.

Figure 1

Percentage of lesion area in the experimental groups. Each value represents the mean ± SEM for n = 7. Values with different letters are significantly different (P < 0.05) between groups.

Figure 2

Photograph of intimal surface of aorta of each group. Representative photograph of intimal surface of aortas stained with Sudan IV. Atherosclerotic lesions were indicated by concentrated brick red colours. Athersclerotic lesion is absent in the NC group. (a) NC, (b) PC, (c) HS, (d) HPO, (e) HKO, (f) HF, (g) HD followed the respective diet for 8 weeks.