Antioxidant Potential of Quercetin: Remarkable Protection against Hypercholesterolemia in Rats

Aims: To explore protective role of the antioxidant flavonoid quercetin (QE) towards experimentally-induced atherosclerosis in rats.
Study Design and Methodology: This study was carried out during Feb. 2014. Experimental atherosclerosis in rats was induced through oral intake of the coconut oil enriched diet (15%) and cholesterol (2%) for successive 30 days. QE (15 mg kg−1 day) was injected intraperitoneally (i.p.) for three consecutive days before cholesterol intake for 30 days.
Results: The triglycerides, total cholesterol, LDL-C, HDL-C, VLDL-C and LDL/HDL ratio levels in plasma were estimated in hypercholesterolemic (HC) rats. Glutathione-S-transferase enzyme level in plasma and liver homogenate were unchanged in all rats. Superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase and catalase activities, were measured in rat liver homogenate. Serum and liver lipid peroxides were determined. HC induced significant elevation in lipid profiles and lipid peroxides and decreased antioxidant enzymes activities. Serum and liver TBARS were significantly increased. The antioxidant enzymes were decreased significantly in HC rats. QE treatment significantly decreased lipid profiles and elevated the antioxidant enzymes.
Conclusion: QE intake protect against HC, by reducing lipid peroxides and elevating antioxidant enzymes levels. Data revealed that, QE could protect against atherosclerosis by decreasing the oxidative stress state.