Dietary seabuckthorn (Hippophae rhamnoides L.) reduces toxicity of oxidized cholesterol in rats

Background & aims: This study focused on the effects of dietary seabuckthorn (Hippophae rhamnoides L. Elaeagnaceae) on the toxicity of oxidized cholesterol in rats. Methods: The rats were divided into eight groups and fed with or without supplement of 0.1% seabuckthorn and 2% oxidized cholesterol in their diets for 8 weeks. Results: It was found that seabuckthorn could improve the body weight decrease and the glutathione (GSH), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) level in the liver, and increase of liver and kidney weight to body weight ratio, and thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances (TBARS) level in the liver of rats caused by oxidized cholesterol (P < 0.05). It also reduced the plasma content of alanine transaminase (ALT), aspartate transaminase (AST) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP), indicating that seabuckthorn could protective the hepatotoxicity induced by oxidized cholesterol (P < 0.05). Conclusions: It was also found that seabuckthorn possessed recovering effect and a short-term protective effect on the toxicity of oxidized cholesterol in rats. Taking all these data together, seabuckthorn may play an important role in diminishing the toxic effects of oxidized cholesterol in rats.