Antihyperlipidemic and Antioxidant Activities of Flavonoid-Rich Extract of Ziziphus lotus (L.) Lam. Fruits

Abstract

Ziziphus lotus (L.) Lam. (Z. lotus) is a medicinal plant species that is widely distributed throughout the Mediterranean basin. Moroccans traditionally use it to treat many illnesses thanks to its beneficial medicinal properties. The purpose of this study is to assess the anti-hyperlipidemic and antioxidant activities of a flavonoid-rich aqueous extract of Z. lotus fruits (ZLF). The 2-2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) scavenging assay and the β-carotene bleaching test were used to determine the antioxidant activity of ZLF. The anti-hyperlipidemic effect of the aqueous extract of ZLF (200 and 400 mg/kg) was evaluated in albino mice exposed to the chronic high-fat diet, based on lipid profile, blood sugar, and changes in growth performance. The results showed that the aqueous extract of ZLF rich in flavonoids (2242.89 ± 25 µg QE (quercitin equivalent)/mg), and has a considerable antioxidant power against DPPH radicals (IC50 = 116 ± 0.02 µg/mL) and β-carotene oxidation. The aqueous extract of ZLF also showed a significant anti-hyperlipidemic effect by improving abnormal changes in lipid profile and blood glucose levels in albino mice exposed to a chronic high-fat diet. Our findings suggest that the anti-hyperlipidemic activities of ZLF aqueous extract are correlated with its flavonoid content and antioxidant activity. Therefore, the aqueous extract of ZLF could be an essential therapeutic candidate for hyperlipidemia patients, thanks to its richness in bioactive molecules.

Inventory of Medicinal Plants Used Traditionally to Manage Kidney Diseases in North-Eastern Morocco: Ethnobotanical Fieldwork and Pharmacological Evidence

“…Plants have always played a significant role in traditional medicine in underdeveloped countries and have also been an integral part of local communities' history and cultural practices [1]. Medicinal plants have been recognized for centuries as a rich source of medicinal agents for preventing and treating a variety of ailments in Morocco [2]. Several researches conducted in different regions of Morocco indicated that people excessively use medicinal plants to meet their healthcare needs in Morocco (at least 75% of the population) [3,4] and it is due to several factors, such as the high cost of conventional medicines, the lack of adequate sanitary facilities, and frangible socioeconomic conditions of users, especially those living in poor, remote areas and also their safety and low incidence of adverse effects [5].…”

Physical Fruit Traits, Proximate Composition, Antioxidant Activity, and Profiling of Fatty Acids and Minerals of Wild Jujube (Ziziphus lotus L. (Desf.)) Fruits from Eleven Moroccan Origins

“…Tey were also higher than those reviewed by Abdoul-Azize [6] (1.22 mg/g DM). TFC values from water extracts were higher than those obtained by Dahlia et al (0.83 ± 0.09-0.98 ± 0.01 mg QE/g DM) [48] and Bencheikh et al (2242.89 ± 25 μg QE/mg DM) [51]. According to outcomes, TFC of Z. lotus fruits was signifcantly infuenced by the geographical origin as well as the solvent used.…”

Two Important Anticancer Mechanisms of Natural and Synthetic Chalcones

“…Flavonoid compounds are associated with a number of biological activities, their antioxidant, anticancer, anti-inflammatory, antidiabetic, antimicrobial, antidyslipidemic, neuroprotective, antiosteoporotic, cytoprotective, hepatoprotective, vasoprotective properties being much studied [ 67 , 68 , 69 , 70 , 71 , 72 , 73 , 74 , 75 ]. Flavonoids are known to decrease cardiovascular risk and cancer-associated mortality [ 76 ].…”