Effect of Suaeda fruticosa aqueous extract in the hypercholesterolaemic and insulin-resistant sand rat.

To study the effect of Suaeda fruticosa in lipid and carbohydrate metabolism in the hypercholesterolaemic and insulin resistant sand rat, 25 rats were subjected to a high cholesterol diet for 90 days. On the 45th day the animals were divided into two groups: control and treated. Aqueous extract prepared in infusion at 10 per cent was administered orally at 1.5 ml per 100 g of body weight per day. On the 90th day, the control group developed a severe hyperlipidaemia, impaired glucose tolerance test and insulin resistance. Treatment by Suaeda fruticosa extract showed hypoglycaemic (41 per cent) and antihyperglycaemic (53 per cent) effects. Furthermore, the plant led to a decrease in plasma levels of insulin (31 per cent), total cholesterol (50 per cent), LDL cholesterol (55 per cent), VLDL cholesterol (49 per cent), oxidized LDL (40 per cent), lecithin cholesterol acyl transferase (44 per cent), triglycerides (57 per cent) and free fatty acids (36 per cent). We concluded that Suaeda fruticosa aqueous extract contains at least two compounds responsible for hypoglycaemic and hypolipidaemic activities.