In Vitro Antioxidant Activity of Hydromethanolic Extract of Karde (Biarum carduchrum) and Tts Effects on the Serum Lipids of Rats

Plant extracts are of considerable interest due to antioxidant and lipid-lowering activities. In this study، the effects of hydromethanolic extract of Karde (Biarum carduchrum) in in vitro and animal model systems were determined. This study was conducted in two stages. Firstly، the antioxidant activity of hydromethanolic extract of Karde was assessed by three tests (namely: 2،2-Diphenyl–picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical-scavenging، chelating activity and reducing power)، and compared with ascorbic acid، α-tochopherol، BHT and EDTA. Secondly، the study was continued with five groups of six rats for 21 days. The first and second groups of rats were fed with normal diet (control) and high-fat diet، respectively. The other three groups of rats received high-fat diet، and were orally fed with extract at a single dose of 200، 400 and 600 mg/kg body weight، respectively. Triglycerides (TG)، total cholesterol (TC)، LDL-C and HDL-C along with the body weight of experimental animals were determined at the beginning and end of each week. Antioxidant activity of the extractwas increased proportionally with the concentration. Karde extract had significant DPPH radical scavenging and reducing power properties compared to BHT and α-tochopherol، respectively (p≤0. 5). Moreover، the plant extract significantly reduced the serum TC، LDL-C and TG levels (p= 0. 000، 0. 012 and 0. 045، respectively) and increased serum HDL-C (p=0. 006). Karde extract has a relatively good antioxidant activity، and can modify abnormal blood lipid levels induced by high-fat diets.