Prophylactic effect of Trigonella foenum-graecum L. seed extract on inflammatory markers and histopathological changes in high-fat-fed ovariectomized rats

Takkella Nagamma; Anjaneyulu Konuri; Kumar Mr Bhat; Padmanabha Udupa; Guruprasad Rao; Yogendra Nayak

doi:10.1016/j.jtcme.2021.07.003

Prophylactic effect of Trigonella foenum-graecum L. seed extract on inflammatory markers and histopathological changes in high-fat-fed ovariectomized rats

J Tradit Complement Med. 2021 Jul 18;12(2):131-140. doi: 10.1016/j.jtcme.2021.07.003. eCollection 2022 Mar.

Authors

Takkella Nagamma¹, Anjaneyulu Konuri², Kumar Mr Bhat³, Padmanabha Udupa⁴, Guruprasad Rao¹, Yogendra Nayak⁵

Affiliations

¹ Department of Biochemistry, Melaka Manipal Medical College (Manipal Campus), Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal, Karnataka, 576104, India.
² Department of Anatomy, Manipal-TATA Medical College, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal, Karnataka, 576104, India.
³ Department of Anatomy, Ras Al Khaimah College of Medical Sciences, RAK Medical & Health Science University, Ras Al Khaimah, United Arab Emirates.
⁴ Department of Biochemistry, Kasturba Medical College, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal, Karnataka, 576104, India.
⁵ Department of Pharmacology, Manipal College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Manipal Academy, of Higher Education, Manipal, Karnataka, 576104, India.

Abstract

Background and aim: Trigonella foenum-graecum L. seeds (TFG) are used as spices in Indian cuisine. In Indian traditional medicine, TFG is used to treat diabetes, dyslipidemia, obesity, arthritis, cancer, digestive disorders, and postmenopausal conditions. Pathophysiology of postmenopausal diseases involves low-grade systemic inflammation. The purpose of this study is to investigate the prophylactic effect of petroleum ether fraction of TFG-extract (PE-TFG) on inflammatory markers, and histopathological changes in ovariectomized rats (OVX-rats) fed with a high-fat diet (HFD).

Experimental procedure: OVX female Sprague Dawley rats were used for the study. Three weeks after ovariectomy, rats were randomized in different groups and administered PE-TFG, atorvastatin, diosgenin, 17β-estradiol for 12 weeks along with HFD. The sham-operated rats (S.OVX) were fed with a standard pellet diet. At the end of 12-weeks, rats were sacrificed, and blood samples were used to estimate lipid profile, glucose, hepatic markers, TNF-α, and leptin. Liver, kidney, and common carotid artery were isolated for testing oxidative stress markers, mRNA expression of adiponectin, PPAR-γ, and histopathological changes.

Results: Administration of PE-TFG significantly decreased (P < 0.05) total cholesterol, LDL, hepatic markers, leptin, TNF-α and improved mRNA expression of adiponectin and PPAR-γ in HFD-fed OVX-rats. Further, micro and macro hepatic steatosis, inflammation, glomerular hypertrophy, degenerated tubules in kidney, increased tunica intima, and media thickness of common carotid artery and the pathological changes were not significant upon PE-TFG administration compared to S.OVX-rats.

Conclusion: PE-TFG protects cellular inflammation and metabolic alternations in HFD-fed OVX-rats and thus can be explored further in postmenopausal diseases as a prophylactic agent.

Keywords: AI, Atherrogenc index; ALT, Alanine transaminase; AST, Aspartate transaminase; ATR, Atorvastatin; Adiponectin; BMI, Body mass index; CCA, Common carotid artery; CMC, Carboxymethylcellulose; CRI, Cardiac risk index; CVD, Cardiovascular disease; DIS, Diosgenis; E2, 17β-estradiol; GSH, Glutathione; H&E stain, Hematoxylin and Eosin stain; HDL, High-density lipoprotein; HFD, High-fat diet; LDL, low-density lipoprotein; Leptin; OVX, Ovariectamised; PE, Petroleum ether fraction; PPAR- γ; PPAR-γ, Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-gamma; TBARS, thiobarbituric acid reactive substances; TC, Total Cholesterol; TFG, Trigonella foenum graecum; TG, triglycerides; TNF- α , tumor necrosis factor-alpha; TNF-α; α-SMA, α -smooth muscle actin; α-smooth muscle actin.