Zygophyllum album aqueous extract reduces protein oxidation and protects endothelial function in hypercholesterolemic-diabetic rats

Abstract

Zygophyllum album (Z. album) is an endemic plant in Algeria and is known for its medicinal properties since long times. This study assess Z. album extract supplementation effects on protein oxidation and endothelial dysfunction tissues in rats rendered hypercholesterolemic-diabetic. Male Wistar rats (n=36), weighing 200±10 g were divided into three groups (n=12). The first group was rendered hypercholesterolemic with an enriched cholesterol diet (1 %) (HC). The second group was rendered diabetic by intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin (STZ) (35 mg/kg of body weight) (D). The third group was hypercholesterolemic and diabetic (HC-D); each group was divided into two groups (n=6), untreated groups (HC, D, HC-D) and treated groups with 1 % Z. album extract (HC-Za, D-Za and HC-D-Za). At d28 of the experiment, Z. album treatment lead to a similar weight growth in HC-Za vs HC and HC-D-Za vs HC-D, while was increased in D-Za vs D (+35 %); similarly, food intake was increased by +17 %. An increase in glutathione (GSH) levels was noted in liver, heart and adipose tissue (p <0.05). Therefore,reduced carbonyls tissue concentrations after Z. album supplementation in HC-Za, D-Za and HC-D-Za was noted; there was respectively a decrease by -38, -52 and -46 % in liver; -36, -32 and -35 % in kidneys and -27, -39 and -27 %, in adipose tissue. An increase in nitric monoxide (NO) levels was observed in all treated groups (p <0.05). In conclusion Z. album stimulates GSH synthesis, attenuates protein oxidation and protects endothelial function in hypercholesterolemic-diabetic rats.