Favorable effects ofGlobularia alypumon cardiometabolic markers in high fructose-fed rats

Purpose This study aims to examine whetherGlobularia alypum(Ga) lyophilized aqueous leaves extract treatment improves cardiometabolic syndromes such as hyperglycemia, lipid profiles and oxidative damage resulting from a high-fructose diet induced in hypertriglyceridemic rats. Design/methodology/approach A total of 24 male Wistar rats weighing 80 +/- 5 g were first randomly divided into 2 groups. A total of 12 control rats (C) were fed a standard-diet (St-D) and 12 high fructose (HF) rats were fed a high-fructose diet (HF-D) containing St-D in which cornstarch was substituted by fructose (61.4%). After 15 weeks of feeding, body weight (BW) was about 320 +/- 20 g and hypertriglyceridemia was noted in HF vs C group (2.69 +/- 0.49 mmol/L) vs (1.25 +/- 0.33 mmol/L). Each group of rats was then divided into two equal groups (n= 6) and fed during four weeks either a St-D or HF-D, treated or not with 1% ofGaextract (C-Ga) and (HF-Ga). After 28 days, fasting rats were anesthetized and blood and tissues were removed to measure biochemical parameters. Findings The results showed no significant differences in BW and insulinemia between all groups.Gaextract supplementation reduced glycemia (-36%), glycosylated hemoglobin (-37%), Homeostasis Model of Assessment-Insulin Resistance index (-34%) and triacylglycerol's contents in plasma (-33%), very low density lipoproteins-low density lipoproteins (VLDL-LDL) (-48%), liver (-52%) and aorta (-39%); total cholesterol concentrations in aorta was 3.7-fold lower in HF-Ga vs HF group.Gatreatment reduced lipid peroxidation in plasma, VLDL-LDL, red blood cells (RBC), liver, muscle and kidney by improving superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) in RBC and catalase (CAT) activity in kidney (p< 0.05). Moreover,Gaameliorates glutathione (GSH) production in RBC (+41%) and kidney tissues (+35%). Originality/value Gaextract ameliorated cardiometabolic syndrome by its hypotriglyceridemic effect and prevented development of insulin resistance. It reduces lipid peroxidation by enhancing non-enzymatic (GSH) and enzymatic (SOD, GPx and CAT) antioxidant defense systems in high-fructose hypertriglyceridemic rats. Therefore, supplementation ofGaleaves extract as an adjuvant could be used for the treatment of hypertriglyceridemia and the prevention and/or the management of cardio-metabolic adverse effects.