بررسي اثرات عصاره برگ گياه پنج انگشت بر غلظت سرمي تري گليسريد و كلسترول رت نر

Study of the Effects of Vitex agnus-castus Leaf Extract on the Serum Concentration of Cholesterol and Triglyceride in Male Rats

Introduction: Vitex agnus-castus (VAC) as a plant in herbal medicine has been known since centuries ago. Recently the effects of this herb for treatment of Premenstrual Syndrome (PMS) and Menopause discomforts have been investigated and were found to be positive. In this research the effects of VAC leaf extract on the amount of the serum lipids have been studied. Materials and Methods: The mature male Charls river strain Rats (with about 210-250 gr. weight) were divided into 3 groups; first experimental group: 20mg extract, second experimental group: 40 mg extract, and third Sham group: 2 ml distilled water per Rat daily. The research was carried out for one month and during each day the experimental groups were fed VAC leaf extract and sham group distilled water. By blood - letting from ratsʹ hearts, the serum concentration of cholesterol and triglyceride were measured by enzymatic method. Data were analyzed by one way ANOVA, MANOVA and Tukey fellow up test at level of significance p<0.05. Results: The study showed that oral administration of the VAC leaf extract in male rats did not have a significant effect on the serum cholesterol in three groups compared with each other, and the serum triglyceride in both experimental groups compared with sham group did not have a significant difference, P>0.05. While in the second experimental group (high dosage) the serum triglyceride increased significantly compared with the first experimental group (low dosage), P<0.05. Conclusion: As in previous studies some compounds with chemical structure similar to steroid hormones like phytoestrogens and ecdysteroids that are capable of binding to estrogen receptors have been isolated from VAC. It is concluded that these compounds with a dependence on dosage related to these receptors have affected lipidsʹ metabolism. Furthermore, the existence of anti oxidant compounds such as flavonoids and iridoids were beneficial in the normalizing of serum lipid levels, and some compounds in this herb that bind to the receptors in hypothalamus and anterior pituitary with endocrine mechanism counterbalanced and regulated serum level of lipid that no significant differences in both experimental groups compared to the sham group were found.