Ursolic acid and luteolin-7-glucoside improves rat plasma lipid profile and inc...

• Autor(es): Azevedo, Marisa ; Camsari, Çagri ; Sá, Carla M. ; Lima, Cristóvão F. ; Ferreira, Manuel Fernandes ; Wilson, Cristina Pereira
• Data: 2010
• Identificador Persistente: http://hdl.handle.net/1822/10888
• Origem: RepositóriUM - Universidade do Minho
• Assunto(s): Lamiaceae species; Ursolic acid; Luteolin-7-glucoside; Lipid profile; Liver glycogen; Functional foods
• Tipo de Documento: Preprint
• Idioma: Inglês

Descrição

Documento submetido para revisão pelos pares. A publicar em Phytotherapy Research. ISSN 0951-418X In the present study, two phytochemicals – ursolic acid (UA) and luteolin-7-glucoside (L7G) – were assessed in vivo in healthy rats regarding effects on plasma glucose and lipid profi le (total cholesterol, HDL and LDL), as well as liver glycogen content, in view of their importance in the aetiology of diabetes and associated complications. Both UA and L7G significantly decreased plasma glucose concentration. UA also significantly increased liver glycogen levels accompanied by phosphorylation of glycogen synthase kinase-3 (GSK3). The increase in glycogen deposition induced by UA (mediated by GSK3) could have contributed to the lower plasma glucose levels observed. Both compounds significantly lowered total plasma cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein levels, and, in addition, UA increased plasma high-density lipoprotein levels. Our results show that UA particularly may be useful in preventable strategies for people at risk of developing diabetes and associated cardiovascular complications by improving plasma glucose levels and lipid profi le, as well as by promoting liver glycogen deposition.