The Effects of <i>Cinnamomum zeylanicum</i> on Lipid Profiles and Histology Via Up-Regulation of LDL Receptor Gene Expression in Hamsters Fed a High Cholesterol Diet
| Author | Seyed Mehrdad Kassaee | en |
| Author | Mohammad Taghi Goodarzi | en |
| Author | Nasim Hayati Roodbari | en |
| Author | Parichehr Yaghmaei | en |
| Issued Date | 2017-08-31 | en |
| Abstract | Background: Recently, medicinal plants have become the focus of more attention due to their potentially effective roles in the prevention and treatment of many diseases. Objectives: The aim of this research was to examine the effects of Cinnamomum zeylanicum (CZ) on lipid profile and histological changes due to LDL receptor (LDL-R) gene expression in hamsters fed a high cholesterol diet. Methods: Thirty-two male hamsters were allocated into four groups (eight in each group under four weeks of treatment) as follows: group ND were fed a standard normal diet; group HCD were fed a normal diet supplemented with high cholesterol; group HCD + CZ2 were fed a high cholesterol diet (HCD) along with 2% CZ; and group HCD + CZ8 were fed an HCD diet along with 8% CZ. After the treatment process, blood samples were taken from all of studied animals, and sera were prepared for lipid profile assays. Liver LDL-R gene expression was assayed using the real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) method. Liver histological changes were determined using the hematoxylin and eosin staining method. Results: A significant reduction was observed in serum triglycerides (TG), total cholesterol (TC), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-c), very-low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (VLDL-c), aspartate transaminase (AST), and alanine transaminase (ALT) levels in the HCD + CZ8 group, while serum high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-c) levels increased when compared with the HCD group (P < 0.001). The HCD group demonstrated decreased LDL-R gene expression in the animals’ livers, whereas treatment with CZ up-regulated its expression. The scores for hepatic steatosis in the HCD + CZ8 group were diminished significantly. Conclusions: The administration of CZ improved dyslipidemia in hypercholesterolemic animals, probably by increasing LDL-R gene expression in the liver; consequently, it can be concluded that CZ can reverse hepatic steatosis. Therefore, CZ was determined as having a protective role against hypercholesterolemia. | en |
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.5812/jjnpp.37340 | en |
| URI | https://brieflands.com/journals/jjnpp/articles/55312 | en |
| Keyword | Cholesterol | en |
| Keyword | Hypercholesterolemia | en |
| Keyword | LDL Receptors | en |
| Keyword | LDL | en |
| Keyword | <i>Cinnamomum zeylanicum</i> | en |
| Publisher | Brieflands | en |
| Title | The Effects of <i>Cinnamomum zeylanicum</i> on Lipid Profiles and Histology Via Up-Regulation of LDL Receptor Gene Expression in Hamsters Fed a High Cholesterol Diet | en |
| Type | Research Article | en |