Effect of resveratrol on serum and liver lipid profile and antioxidant activity in hyperlipidemia rats

The antioxidant activity of resveratrol in cholesterol-fed rats, along with its hypolipidemic effects was determined. Thirty two male Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were randomly divided into three groups (Control, Res30 and Res70) and fed a hyperlipidemic diet for 4 weeks. Resveratrol was suspended in 0.3% carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) solution and given to rats of the Res30 and Res70 groups once a day for 4 weeks by oral intubation at a dose of 30 and 70 mg/kg body weight, respectively. The control group received 0.3% CMC solution alone. Resveratrol significantly lowered serum lipid, hepatic cholesterol (TC) and triglyceride (TG) levels compared to the control. Excretion of bile acids was significantly enhanced by resveratrol. The overall potential of the antioxidant system was significantly enhanced by the resveratrol as plasma and hepatic thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) levels were lowered while serum superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) and catalase (CAT) activities were increased in the cholesterol-fed rats. These findings suggest that resveratrol maintains an antioxidant efficacy as well as its anti-hyperlipidemic effect.