Hypolipidemic and antioxidant effects of Securigera securidaca L. seed in high fat fed rats

Hypercholesterolemia is the main risk factors for atherosclerosis and atherosclerosis is the major cause of heart diseases and stroke. In the present study، we investigated the effect of total extract of Securigera securidaca L. seeds on the serum lipid profile and oxidative stresses caused by hypercholesterolemia. Male Wistar rats randomly divided into 6 groups of 6 animals in each. The rats in normal control group were fed a standard laboratory diet and the other groups were fed a high fat diet for 36 days. Oral treatment with the extract started at day of 16 and continued for last 20 days of the experiment period. At the end of the experiment، portal vein blood and liver were collected to measure the lipid levels and other biochemical factors. The results of this study indicated that short-term treatment by hydroalcoholic extract of S. securidaca L. seeds، produced a significant reduction (p<0. 05) in the level of triglyceride، as well as LDL. Compared to acid ascorbic the extract had a weak antioxidant activity in vitro with no effect on total serum anti-oxidant and serum paraoxonase activity. However، the present results showed that high-fat diet induced elevation of malondialdehyde (MDA) level، both in serum and liver، was suppressed markedly by the extract (p<0. 001). The results of this study indicated that the extract of S. securidaca’s seeds in addition to having considerable hypolipidemic effects in high fat fed rats، was able to decrease lipid peroxidation independent of antioxidant activity.