Antidyslipidemic effect and antioxidant activity of anthraquinone derivatives from Rheum emodi rhizomes in dyslipidemic rats

• DOI: 10.1007/s11418-013-0810-z
• Publication Date: 2013-12-16T11:41:22Z
• Authors: Sunil K. Mishra; Shashi Tiwari; Atul Shrivastava; Shishir Srivastava; Goutam K. Boudh; Shivendra K. Chou...; Upma Chaturvedi; Snober S. Mir; Anil K. Saxena; Gitika Bhatia; Vijai Lakshmi
• Keywords: Male; 0303 health sciences; Emodin; Plant Extracts; Anthraquinones; Lipid Metabolism; Lipids; Antioxidants; Polyethylene Glycols; Rats; 3. Good health; 03 medical and health sciences; Liver; Animals; Rheum; Rhizome; Dyslipidemias

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the antidyslipidemic effect of ethanolic extract of Rheum emodi rhizomes and its constituents in Triton-WR-1339 and high-fat diet (HFD)-induced dyslipidemic rats. In preliminary screening, the ethanolic extract showed significant activity in Triton-treated rats. Bioassay-guided fractionation of the ethanolic extract resulted in the identification of four anthraquinone derivatives, viz. chrysophanol, emodin, chrysophanol 8-O-β-D-glucopyranoside and emodin 8-O-β-D-glucopyranoside as active constituents. All these compounds significantly reduced plasma lipid levels. The most active compound emodin showed significant lipid-lowering activity in the HFD-fed model. In addition, these compounds showed significant antioxidant activity. The effect of emodin on enzymes modulating lipid metabolism confirms and supports the efficiency of emodin as a potent antidyslipidemic agent.