Antihyperlipidemic, antioxidant and weight-lowering effects of "Vitalplant"

Abstract

BACKGROUND: "VITALPLANT" medicinal plant mixture, aimed at body weight regulation and metabolism enhancement was formulated in order to be incorporated as an ingredient in functional food formulations on the basis of known biological activity of the alder buckthorn bark, peppermint, caraway and parsley. METHODOLOGY: The body weight-lowering potential, hypolipidemic effects and antioxidant activity of "Vitalplant" mixture were examined on five groups of male Wistar rats on different food regimes for 14 weeks. RESULTS: "Vitalplant" mixture supplementation caused an increase in food intake, but induced a decrease in body weight gain. The lipid status and atherogenic index (AI) were significantly improved in "Vitalplant" mixture supplemented hyperlipidemic (HF) groups in comparison to HF group. "Vitalplant" mixture was able to influence the activity of antioxidant enzymes and to protect erythrocytes of the rats fed the HF diet from oxidative damage, which was indicated by significantly lower malondialdehyde (MDA) levels in "Vitalplant"- HF groups in comparison to the HF group. CONCLUSION: "Vitalplant" mixture seemed to be beneficial for the reduction of body weight and improvement of antioxidant status of the erythrocytes, and its antihyperlipidemic property was highly active for enhancing the profile of plasma lipids in rats.