Antioxidative and Hypolipidemic Effects of Diosgenin, a Steroidal Saponin of Yam (Dioscorea spp.), on High-Cholesterol Fed Rats

Abstract

Diosgenin (a steroidal saponin of yam) has long been used as a raw material for the industrial production of steroid drugs, and reported to have a hypocholesterolemic effect by suppressing cholesterol absorption and increasing cholesterol secretion. Oxidative stress has been suggested as a main risk factor in the development of atherosclerosis. The aim of this study is to investigate the possible hypolipidemic and antioxidative effect of diosgenin on rats fed with a high-cholesterol diet supplemented with either 0.1% or 0.5% diosgenin for 6 weeks. We measured the lipid profile in the plasma and liver, lipid peroxidation and antioxidative enzyme activities in the plasma, erythrocyte and gene expression of antioxidative enzymes in the liver, and the oxidative DNA damage in lymphocytes. Diosgenin showed a decrease in the plasma and hepatic total cholesterol levels, but increased the plasma high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol level. Erythrocyte TBARS and lymphocyte DNA damage measured by the comet assay were decreased in the diosgenin supplemented group. Furthermore, diosgenin feeding enhanced the resistance to lymphocyte DNA damage caused by an oxidant challenge with H(2)O(2). The antioxidative enzyme activities were also affected by diosgenin supplementation. Total superoxide dismutase (SOD) in the plasma and liver, glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) in erythrocytes, and catalase (CAT) in erythrocytes and liver were significantly increased in the 0.5% diosgenin group. The expression of antioxidative enzymes was up-regulated by diosgenin, the expression of GSH-Px being the highest in the 0.5% diosgenin group. These results suggest that diosgenin could be a very useful compound to control hypercholesterolemia by both improving the lipid profile and modulating oxidative stress.

Effect of Sauropus Androgynus Leaves Extract (Sale) on Fat Deposition in Broiler Fed Low Protein Diets

“…This means SALE supplementation alone was not enough to lower cholesterol content to below control. Compounds that play a role in lowering cholesterol might be alkaloids and non-alkaloids (Santoso et al, 2010), saponins (Son et al, 2007), polyphenol (Ngamukote et al, 2011;Zang et al, 2006), flavonoid (Shrime et al, 2011). Patil et al (2010) reported that the reduction of cholesterol and triglycerides by alkaloids were in part caused by the reduction of lipogenic enzymes activities and increased bile acid excretion in feces.…”

Hypolipidemic Effects of Coenzyme Q10 in Experimentally Induced Hypercholesterolemic Model in Female Rats

“…Coenzyme Q10 supplementation was associated with significant reduction in thiobarbituric acid reactive substances, malondealdehyde and diene conjugates in coronary artery disease patients, indicating an overall decrease in oxidative stress (Singh and Niaz, 1999). However, the relationship between oxidative stress and cholesterol levels was confirmed in many studies (Pappolla et al, 2002;Balkan et al, 2004;Chang et al, 2006;Son et al, 2007;Codoñer-Franch et al, 2008;Yao et al, 2008;Nakagami et al, 2009). Ramirez-Tortosa et al, (2008) investigated the effects of the administration of water soluble Coenzyme Q10 in the plasma and liver mitochondria of rabbits fed with a high-fat diet (3% lard + 1.3% cholesterol).…”

Saponin in Poultry and Monogastric Animals: A Review

“…Diosgenin (a steroidal sponin of Dioscorea spp.) supplementation (0.5%) caused a 27% and 13% increase in GPx and CAT activities in erythrocytes of rats (Son et al, 2007).…”