Hypolipidemic effects of barley-β-glucan in experimentally induced hyperlipidemic rats

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Department of Clinical Pathology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Benha University, Egypt.

2 Department of Clinical Pathology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Benha University (EGYPT)

Abstract

Hyperlipidemia is one of the major risk factors for heart disease. One way to reduce the risk of developing the disease is to lower serum cholesterol levels by making dietary changes. Beta-glucan are glucose polymers present in cereal grains as barley,consumption of the whole grain or concentrated β-glucan preparation has been shown to lower blood lipid profile and atherogenic ratios. Fifty male albino rats were assigned into five groups. The control groupreceived standard diet, the hyperlipidemic group fed 1% cholesterol and 20% coconut oil in the dietfor 8 weeks. The β-glucan treated group received high fat diet for 4 weeks then high fat diet plus barley β-glucan 10 mg/rats given orally for more 4 weeks. The β-glucan protected group received standard diet +10 mg/rat barley β-glucan for 2 weeks then high fat diet + barley β-glucan 10 mg/rat for another 8 weeks. The β-glucan group received standard diet + barley β-glucan 10 mg/rat for 8 weeks. The hyperlipidemicrats showed an increase in lipid profile, total lipid, phospholipids, atherogenic ratios, liver enzymes, kidney functions and glucose and a decrease in HDL-C and albumin compared with the control group. Moreover histological examination of liver tissue of hyperlipidemic rats showed fatty hepatocytes compared with the control. Administration of barley β-glucan 10 mg/rat in treated and protected groups ameliorated the levels of lipids, atherogenic ratios, liver functions, kidney functions and glucose. In addition, the liver tissues showed improved pathological alterations.

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