Aim of the study: Seeds of Securigera securidaca are used for the treatment of disorders such as hyperlipidemia, diabetes, and epilepsy in Iranian folk medicine. The possible hypolipidemic and antioxidative effects of hydroalcoholic extract of S. securidaca seeds as well as the effect of the extract on vascular reactivity were investigated in hypercholesterolemic rats.
Materials and methods: High-fat fed wistar rats received orally different doses of the extract for 20 days. At the end of the experiment vein blood and liver were collected to measure the lipid profile, lipid peroxidation, and antioxidative enzyme activities. The thoracic aorta was excised and used for isolated vessel preparation and histological study.
Results: The extract produced significant reductions (p<0.05) in the level of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) and triglyceride with concomitant reduction in lipid deposition in the liver. The extract also suppressed markedly (p<0.001) the hypercholesterolemia-induced elevation of malondialdehyde levels both in serum and liver. In hypercholesterolemic rats the endothelium-dependent vasodilatation was improved significantly (p<0.05) by 100mg/kg/day of the extract. However, in histological study no atherosclerotic lesion was observed.
Conclusion: These results suggest that S. securidaca seed in addition to decrease lipid levels and peroxidation, is able to improve vascular endothelium-dependent relaxation in hypercholesterolemia.