Mucilaginous extract of Avena sativa seed improves hyperlipidemia biomarkers and histopathology

In this study, researchers from Taibah University in Saudi Arabia and Benha University in Egypt investigated the effects of Avena sativa mucilaginous extract (ASE) on lipid metabolism and liver function in rats. The results of their study were published in the Journal of Medicinal Plants Research.

• Hyperlipidemia or high blood cholesterol level is a major health concern worldwide.
• For their study, the researchers used albino rats to evaluate the ability of A. sativa (oats) to improve lipid metabolism and liver function.
• They induced hyperlipidemia in the rodents by feeding them a high-fat diet ad libitum for six weeks.
• The researchers then divided the rats into seven groups:
  • Group I received a normal diet and served as normal control.
  • Group II, which served as diseased control, received a high-fat diet consisting of one percent cholesterol and two percent coconut oil for six weeks.
  • Group III, which served as standard control, received a high-fat diet plus one milligram per kilogram body weight (mg/kg wt) ezetimibe.
  • Groups IV and V, which served as treated-SD and treated-HD, respectively, received a high-fat diet plus small (SD, 25 mg/kg wt) and high doses (HD, 50 mg/kg wt) of ASE daily.
  • Groups VI and VII received a normal diet plus SD and HD of ASE.
• The researchers took blood serum samples for analysis on days 28 and 42 of the experiment and collected tissue specimens for histopathology.
• They reported that ASE significantly decreased elevated serum lipid profile parameters, such as total lipids, triacylglycerols (TAGs), cholesterol, LDL, and VLDL.
• ASE also normalized serum HDL levels in rats fed a high-fat diet.
• Additionally, ASE significantly decreased elevated serum liver enzyme activities in rats fed a high-fat diet.
• Histopathological examination results aligned with the blood test results.

Based on these findings, the researchers concluded that ASE has a therapeutic effect on hyperlipidemia and can lower blood cholesterol levels.

Journal Reference:

Ibtsam MG, Abubakr ME-M. PROTECTIVE POTENTIAL OF AVENA SATIVA SEED MUCILAGINOUS EXTRACT AGAINST HYPERLIPIDEMIA INDICATED BY IMPROVED BIOMARKERS AND HISTOPATHOLOGY. Journal of Medicinal Plants Research. 10 January 2019;13(1):1–8. DOI: 10.5897/jmpr2018.6704