The effects of hydroalcoholic extract of aerial parts of Amaranthus caudatus L. on some biochemical factors of cardiovascular diseases and fatty streak formation in hypercholesterolemic rabbits

In this study, anti atherosclerosis effect of aerial parts extract of Amaranthus caudatus L. on rabbits was studied. Twenty male New Zealand rabbits were randomly divided into four groups of five and were fed for 60 days as follows: standard diet, standard diet and cholesterol, standard diet and Amaranthus caudatus extract (150 mg/kg daily), standard diet and Amaranthus caudatus extract (150 mg/kg daily) and cholesterol. Prior to the beginning of diets and at the 60th day of experiment, the biochemical factors were measured. The fatty streak formation was evaluated at the end of the study. Rabbits fed high cholesterol diet with Amaranthus Caudatus extract cholesterol, LDL-C, triglyceride, apo-lipoprotein B (apoB), CRP, atherogenic index (AI) significantly decreased and HDL-C and apo-lipoprotein A (apoA) increased compared to with high cholesterol group. Also lesion severity, in extract recipient group, significantly decreased. Amaranthus caudatus extract by decreasing serum lipoproteins and apo B, is one of the most important new risk factors of cardiovascular diseases and by decreasing inflammatory factors prevent atherosclerosis.