The beneficial effects of feeding syrup of peaches and pears (peel and pulp) & green tea on the restoration of the changes produced by feeding high sucrose diet on plasma lipid profile, plasma antioxidant activity, and antioxidant enzymes in red blood cells (RBC) hemolysate were studied. High sucrose diet induced hyperlipidemia as manifested by significant (P ≤ 0.05) increases in the levels of cholesterol, triglycerides (TG) and low density lipoproteins (LDL) in plasma from 103.33 ± 1.8, 61.17 ± 0.48 and 26.6 ± 5.01 mg/dl to 136.67 ± 2.2, 81.3 ± 1.5 and 64.6 ± 6.5 mg/dl respectively. The high density lipoproteins (HDL) level was not significantly affected. TG levels in heart muscles increased significantly P ≤ 0.05 from the level of 194.14 ± 4.35 μg/g in the negative control to 269.72 ± 5.39 μg/g. Administration of fruits syrup and green tea resulted in a significant variable reduction in the elevated levels of cholesterol, TG and LDL and TG in the heart. Administration of sucrose resulted also in elevation of Malondialdehyde (MDA) in plasma from 5.06 ± 0.18 in the negative control to 14.81 ± 0.48 μmol/L in the positive control. This was also accompanied by reduction in the activities of supper oxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), catalase (CAT) and a decrease in the concentration of reduced glutathione (GSH) in plasma, indicating lipid peroxidation. The activities of SOD, GSH-Px, CAT in the negative control were 8.96 ± 0.19, 315.67 ± 5.86, 209 ± 2.18 U/gHb respectively and were reduced significantly in the positive control to 4.7 ± 0.2, 273.83 ± 7.85, 207 ± 2.53 U/g Hb. There was a significant decrease in the level of total antioxidant status (TAS) in plasma from 1.45 ± 0.09 to 0.88 ± 0.09 nmol/L. However, no statistically significant changes were noticed in the concentrations of plasma total proteins and albumin. Intake of syrup of peaches and pears (peel and pulp) & green tea increased the level of TAS and GSH and decreased the level of LDL. The treatment also decreased significantly (P ≤ 0.05) the levels of plasma cholesterol, TG and heart TG levels. The activities of SOD and GSH-Px were increased following the treatment. It can be concluded that syrup of peaches and pears (peel and pulp) & green tea modulate lipid metabolism and enhance antioxidant status and in this respect green tea produced the best effect followed by peels of pears and peaches. The beneficial effect produced by fruits syrup and green tea may be due to their contents of phytochemicals.
The health benefits of fruits and vegetables consumption have been confirmed for decades [
Male adult Wistar rats five weeks old weighing between 150 - 200 g were used in the present study. All experiments and study was approved by the Institutional Animal Ethics Committee (IAEC) of Qassim University, Saudi Arabia, regulated by the Committee for the Purpose of the Control and the Supervision of Experiments on Animals (CPCSEA). The animals were housed in polyacrylate cages (38 × 23 × 10 cm) with not more than four rats per cage. They were housed in an air-conditioned room and kept in standard laboratory conditions under standard light and dark cycles (12 h light and 12 h dark) and maintained at an ambient temperature of 25˚C ± 2˚C. The animals were fed standard pellet diet) and water ad libitum. The composition of the rat chow is shown in
Control-diet group was provided with basal diet while the second group (positive control) consumed sucrose- rich diet only. The sucrose rich diet was prepared from 650 g of the basal diet +350 g of commercial sucrose obtained from supermarkets. Peels and pulp of pears and peaches were collected and dried at 45˚C till reached constant weight. Aqueous fruits and green tea extracts were prepared (10%) every day and supplied twice daily in drinking water for the green tea, peaches and pears groups. The sucrose-rich diets are supposed to induce hypertriglyceridemia and hypercholesterolemia.
The animals were divided into 7 equal groups, ten each, and they were subjected to such diet to induce hyperlipidemia, as follows:
1) 1st group was Negative Control (normal animals), the animals were fed standard pellet diet without any additions.
2) 2nd group was the positive Control, which was fed with a high sucrose diet.
3) 3rd group was fed with the same high sucrose diet with pear’s pulp extract.
4) 4th group was fed with the same high sucrose diet and pear’s peel extract.
5) 5th group was fed with the same high sucrose diet and extract of the pulp of the peach.
6) 6th group was fed with the same high sucrose diet and extract of peel of peach.
7) 7th group was fed with the same high sucrose diet with green tea extract.
Acclimatization period continued for 7 days. The experimental period continued for 6 weeks.
Blood was collected from the retro-orbital plexus under mild ether anesthesia in heparinized centrifuge tubes
Ingredient | Content |
---|---|
Crude protein | 20% |
Crude fat | 4% |
Crude fibers | 3.5% |
Soya bean | 25% - 30% |
Wheat bran | 8% - 10% |
Soya bean | 25% - 30% |
Barseem | 4% |
Ash | 6% |
Salts | 0.5% |
Calcium | 1% |
Phosphorus | 0.6% |
Vegetable oil | 1.5% |
and then centrifuge at 3000 rpm for 30 min. The resultant clear supernatant was collected and stored at −20˚C. Red blood cells were rinsed three times with isotonic solution of NaCl (0.9%) and centrifuged for 10 min at 3000 g. The supernatant was discarded and the red blood cells were processed. Sedimented cells were hemolysed with 9- fold volume distilled water to prepare 10% (v/v) hemolysate. Hemoglobin (Hb) concentration, packed cell volume (PCV), red blood cells (RBC) were determined by the Abbott Cell Dyn® 3500 (Abbott Diagnostic Division, California (USA).
The collected plasma was used to evaluate lipid peroxides. Malondialdehyde (MDA) was determined according to the method of Lukaszewicz-Hussain & Moniuszko-Jakoniuk, [
The activities of aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase; (ALT) were determined by the method of Reitmanand Frankel [
Total cholesterol (TC) was determined according to the method of Tietz [
Total antioxidant status (TAS) weredetermined using a standard kit (Span Diagnostic Pvt Ltd., India). From the sample of heart tissue, homogenate lipids were extracted using the method of Folch et al. [
After decapitation, the heart was rapidly dissected out, washed immediately with saline, Two samples of heart tissues were taken from all groups and quickly labeled. One sample of heart tissues was stored deep-frozen (−20˚C) until used for assays of triglycerides. Other samples were fixed in 10% buffered formalin. Hearts, which were stored in 10% formalin, were embedded in paraffin; sections cut at 5 μm and stained with haematoxylin and eosin. Sections of the heart were analysed microscopically (Olympus BX10) for histological changes.
Results are presented as mean ± SEM. Two-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) followed by Bonferroni multiple comparisons using a computer-based fitting program (Prism, GraphPad). Differences were considered to be statistically significant when P < 0.05.
Increase in body weight at the end of the experimental period in the different treatment groups are presented in
Levels of triglycerides in heart tissues are shown in
Levels of cholesterol, LDL, HDL, triglycerides, albumin and total proteins are presented in
The level of triglycerides in the plasma is shown in
Groups | Heart TG (µg/g) |
---|---|
Negative control | 194.14 ± 4.35cb |
Positive control | 269.72 ± 5.39a |
pulp of peaches | 201.5 ± 2.95cb |
Peel of peaches | 187.43 ± 3.63cb |
pulp of Pears | 210.37 ± 3.14b |
Peel of pears | 166.52 ± 32.77c |
Green tea | 164.97 ± 3.36c |
Means on the same column with different superscripts are significantly different at P ≤ 0.05.
Groups | Cholesterol mg/100ml | LDL mg/100ml | HDL mg/100ml | TG mg/100ml | Albumin g/100ml | Protein g/100ml |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Negative control | 103.33 ± 1.8cb | 26.6 ± 5.01b | 60.5 ± 0.43a | 61.17 ± 0.48d | 4.08 ± 0.06a | 7.37 ± 0.13a |
Positive control | 136.67 ± 2.2a | 64.6 ± 6.5a | 61.0 ± 0.82a | 81.3 ± 1.5a | 4.13 ± 0.17a | 7.43 ± 0.13a |
pulp of peaches | 101.63± 2.5c | 27.6 ± 2.3b | 60.7 ± 0.88a | 67.48 ± 0.54b | 4.03 ± 0.08a | 7.2 ± 0.12a |
Peel of peaches | 78.88 ± 2.6d | 8.2 ± 1.5c | 60.7 ± 0.88a | 63.47 ± 0.8d | 4.1 ± 0.12a | 7.25 ± 0.09a |
pulp of Pears | 108.48 ± 1.06b | 36.4 ± 3.3b | 60.8 ± 0.6a | 71.47 ± 0.88b | 3.73 ± 0.22a | 7.08 ± 0.05a |
Peel of pears | 99.74 ± 0.85c | 26.04 ± 0.62b | 60.4 ± 0.42a | 66.92 ± 0.81c | 3.95 ± 0.06a | 7.2 ± 0.25a |
Green tea | 70.15 ± 1.14e | 4.6 ± 0.74c | 62.0 ± 0.45a | 50.8 ± 0.65e | 4.09 ± 0.08a | 7.2 ± 0.11a |
Means on the same column with different superscripts are significantly different at P ≤ 0.05.
pulp of peaches, peel of peaches , pulp of pears, peel of pears and green tea are 61.17 ± 0.48, 81.3 ± 1.5, 67.48 ± 0.54, 63.47 ± 0.8, 71.47 ± 0.88, 66.92 ± 0.81, 50.8 ± 0.65 mg/dl respectively. All treatments decreased significantly (P ≤ 0.05) the levels of triglycerides when compared with the positive control that received sucrose without any treatment. The best decrease was reported in the group that received green tea.
The level of HDL in the negative control, positive control ,pulp of peaches, peel of peaches, pulp of pears, peel of pears and green tea are 60.5 ± 0.43, 61.0 ± 0.82, 60.7 ± 0.88, 60.8 ± 0.6, 60.4 ± 0.42, 62.0 ± 0.45 mg/dl respectively. There were no statistically significant differences between different groups when compared with the positive control group despite a non-significant increase in the level of HDL in the group that received green tea.
The level of LDL in the negative control was 26.6 ± 5.01 mg/dl and in the positive control it increased significantly to 64.6 ± 6.5 mg/dl. All treatments resulted in significant decreases in the levels of LDL, with green tea producing the best lowering effect followed by peel of peaches and then peels of pears.
Ascan be depicted from
Levels of MDA, reduced glutathione, antioxidant enzymes and total antioxidant status in rats are shown in
The level of MDA in negative control group was 5.06 ± 0.18 µmol/L that increased (P ≤ 0.05) in the positive control group (14.81 ± 0.48 µmol/L). All treatments produced significant decrease in the levels of MDA. The best reduction as presented in
The levels of TAS in the plasma of rats in the different groups is shown in
Groups | MDA (µmol/L) | SOD (U/g Hb) | GSH-Px (U/g Hb) | CAT (U/g Hb) | GSH (reduced) (mmol/L) | TAS (nmol/L) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Negative control | 5.06 ± 0.18c | 8.96 ± 0.19e | 315.67 ± 5.86d | 209.17 ± 2.18cb | 9.03 ± 0.12e | 1.45 ± 0.09e |
Positive control | 14.81 ± 0.48a | 4.7 ± 0.2f | 273.83 ± 7.85e | 207.0 ± 2.53c | 7.45 ± 0.36f | 0.88 ± 0.09f |
pulp of peaches | 6.65 ± 0.33b | 11.65 ± 0.37c | 341.5 ± 15.14dc | 215.0 ± 2.71cb | 10.39 ± 0.24d | 2.74 ± 0.18d |
Peel of peaches | 5.34 ± 0.29c | 14.7 ± 0.44b | 406.83 ± 3.91b | 216.17 ± 3.26b | 12.45 ± 0.48c | 3.76 ± 0.27c |
pulp of Pears | 7.01 ± 0.18b | 10.2 ± 0.34d | 314.83 ± 15.88d | 211.83 ± 2.17cb | 10.05 ± 0.17d | 2.87 ± 0.22d |
Peel of pears | 6.79 ± 0.18b | 12.58 ± 0.37c | 362.0 ± 15.18c | 210.33 ± 2.89cb | 13.96 ± 0.32b | 13.58 ± 10.28a |
Green tea | 2.82 ± 0.22d | 22.55 ± 0.61a | 460.75 ± 6.39a | 228.75 ± 3.66a | 17.14 ± 0.41a | 7.02 ± 0.34b |
Means on the same column with different superscripts are significantly different at P ≤ 0.05.
Groups | ALT (IU/L) | AST (IU/L) |
---|---|---|
Negative control | 28.9 ± 1.4e | 22.5 ± 3.7e |
Positive control | 77.6 ± 3.9a | 77.5 ± 4.4a |
pulp of peaches | 65.9 ± 2.2bc | 38.7 ± 1.2c |
Peel of peaches | 56.8 ± 2.9d | 32.0 ± 1.9cd |
pulp of Pears | 71.2 ± 3.3ba | 48.6 ± 2.1b |
Peel of pears | 62.4 ± 2.2dc | 39.0 ± 0.79c |
Green tea | 27.5 ± 1.3e | 25.6 ± 1.13de |
Means on the same column with different superscripts are significantly different at P ≤ 0.05.
13.58 ± 10.28, 7.02 ± 0.34 nmol/L. All of the treatments increased the level of TAS significantly, however, the highest increase was produced by the peel of pears followed by the group of green tea.
The levels of reduced glutathione in the negative and positive control groups are 9.03 ± 0.12 and 7.45 ± 0.36 mmol/L respectively. Different treatments increased the level of GSH when compared with the positive control as presented in
Activities of the antioxidant enzymes, supper oxide dismutase (SOD), Glutathione peroxidase (GSHx) and Catalase in the RBCS hemolysate of rats of the different groups are presented in
Activities of SOD in the negative and positive control groups are 8.96 ± 0.19 and 4.7 ± 0.2 U/g Hb respectively. Different treatments produced increase in the activities of SOD. Green tea resulted in the highest significant increase (P ≤ 0.05) followed by peel of peaches group and then peel of pears.
Activities of GSHx in the negative and positive control groups are 315.67 ± 5.86 and 273.83 ± 7.85 U/g Hb respectively. Administration of fruits and tea resulted in significant increases in the activities of the enzyme. The highest increase was in the green tea group followed by the group that received peel of peaches and then the group treated with peel of pears.
Activities of Catalase in the negative and positive control groups are 209.17 ± 2.18 and 207.0 ± 2.53 U/g Hb. There was no significant difference in the activities of the enzyme in the two groups. However, only administration of green tea resulted in a significant increase in the activity of the enzyme (228.75 ± 3.66 U/g Hb).
The activities of Alanine transaminase (ALT) and Aspartate aminotransferase (AST) were measured in the sera of different groups as presented in
The activities of the enzyme in the negative and positive control were 28.9 ± 1.4 and 77.6 ± 3.9 IU/L respectively. There was a significant increase in the activity of the positive control when compared with the normal negative control rats. Administration of green tea, peaches and pears resulted in lowering of the elevated enzyme activity with best lowering with green tea. However, lowering of enzyme activity produced by pulp of pears was not significant.
The activities of the enzyme in the negative and positive control were 22.5 ± 3.7 and 77.5 ± 4.4 IU/L respectively. Administration of green tea, peaches and pears resulted in reduction of the activities of AST, again the best reduction was produced by green tea.
The histopathological changes are presented in
The aim of the present investigation was to study the effect of feeding high sucrose diet on plasma lipid profile, plasma antioxidant activity, antioxidant enzymes in RBC hemolysate general health conditions of rats and also attempted to study the effect of syrup of peaches and pears (peel and pulp) & green tea on the restoration of the changes produced by feeding high sucrose diet. Previous studies indicated that sucrose is lipogenic and induced hyperlipidemia [
Results obtained in the present study confirmed the previous results of Kono, et al. [
Groups | Pathological changes |
---|---|
Negative control | showing normal architecture of the cardiac muscle fibers with small rounded central nuclei. ( |
Positive control | showing marked separation of cardiac muscle fibers with diffuse haemorrhage and congestion in the cardiac muscle fibers. ( |
pulp of peaches | Myocardium, showing moderate haemorrhage in the cardiac muscle fibres. ( |
Peel of peaches | Mild separation of cardiac muscle fibers with mild haemorrhage and congestion blood vessels. ( |
pulp of Pears | Showing mild separation of cardiac muscle fibers with mild haemorrhage and congestion blood vessels. ( |
Peel of pears | (spoiled) |
Green tea | Showing normal architecture of the cardiac muscle fibers mild haemorrhage and fibrosis. Some nuclei are degenerated and other are PyKontic. ( |
TAS and GSH and an increase in the HDL and a decrease in the concentration of LDL (
It can be concluded from the present study that feeding syrup of pears and peaches (pulp & peel) and green tea increased the antioxidant capacity and can scavenge reactive oxygen species which resulted in reduced Hypercholesterolemia, hypertriglyceridemia, lipid peroxidation (MDA), improved the activities of antioxidant enzymes (SOD, GSH-Px) and Catalase and blood reduced glutathione and plasma aminotransferases (ALT, AST) and plasma urea. Moreover, histopathological examination of the heart tissue showed signs of recovery from separation of cardiac muscle fibers, diffuse haemorrhage and congestion. Thus it can be concluded that administration of pears, peaches and green tea can protect from oxidative stress generated by feeding high sucrose diet and in this respect green tea produced the higher improvement followed by peels of pears and peaches.
Nada A. AlZunaidy,Noorah S.Al-Sowayan,Hassan M.Mousa, (2015) Effect of Peaches, Pears and Green Tea on Plasma Lipids Profile and Antioxidant Content in Rats Fed High Sucrose Diet. Food and Nutrition Sciences,06,893-905. doi: 10.4236/fns.2015.610094