Hypolipidemic and antioxidant properties of tocotrienol rich fraction isolated from rice bran oil in experimentally induced hyperlipidemic rats

Food Chem Toxicol. 2005 May;43(5):747-53. doi: 10.1016/j.fct.2005.01.015.

Abstract

We investigated a dose-dependent hypolipidemic and antioxidant effect of tocotrienol rich fraction (TRF) isolated from rice bran oil on experimentally induced hyperlipidemic rats. Feeding of atherogenic diet (5% hydrogenated fat, 0.5% cholic acid and 1% cholesterol) for three weeks resulted in a significant increase in plasma triglyceride (3.3-fold) and total cholesterol (2.4-fold) levels. There was a 5-fold increase in the level of LDL cholesterol with only a small increase in HDL cholesterol. On the other hand, HMG-CoA reductase activity was significantly reduced in these animals. The formation of TBARS, thiobarbituric acid reactive substances, (86%) and conjugated dienes (78%) were also significantly higher in these rats compared to normals. After the induction of hyperlipidemia for three weeks, rats were supplemented with different doses of TRF for one week. TRF supplementation decreased the lipid parameters in a dose-dependent manner with an optimum effect at a dose of 8 mg TRF/kg/day. HMG-CoA reductase activity, which was increased after the withdrawal of atherogenic diet, remained significantly decreased during the TRF treatment. Feeding of TRF also decreased TBARS and conjugated dienes significantly. These results suggest that TRF supplementation has significant health benefits through the modulation of physiological functions that include various atherogenic lipid profiles and antioxidants in hypercholesterolemia.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Administration, Oral
  • Animals
  • Antioxidants / administration & dosage
  • Antioxidants / pharmacology*
  • Cholesterol / blood
  • Diet, Atherogenic
  • Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
  • Hydroxymethylglutaryl CoA Reductases / metabolism
  • Hyperlipidemias / drug therapy*
  • Hyperlipidemias / etiology
  • Hypolipidemic Agents / administration & dosage
  • Hypolipidemic Agents / pharmacology*
  • Lipid Peroxidation / drug effects
  • Male
  • Plant Oils / administration & dosage
  • Plant Oils / chemistry*
  • Random Allocation
  • Rats
  • Rice Bran Oil
  • Thiobarbituric Acid Reactive Substances / analysis
  • Tocotrienols / administration & dosage
  • Tocotrienols / pharmacology*
  • Triglycerides / blood

Substances

  • Antioxidants
  • Hypolipidemic Agents
  • Plant Oils
  • Thiobarbituric Acid Reactive Substances
  • Tocotrienols
  • Triglycerides
  • Cholesterol
  • Hydroxymethylglutaryl CoA Reductases
  • Rice Bran Oil