Evaluation the hypolipidemic and antioxidant efficacy of diosgenin extracted from fenugreek seeds in experimentally induced oxidative stressed male rats

This study was conducted to assess the antioxidant status and hypolipidemic role of purified diosgenin extracted from fenugreek seeds in hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) and atherogenic diet experimentally induced oxidative stress male rats. Hexane and chloroform were used for the extraction of diosgenin from ground fenugreek seeds. Purification of extracted fraction was carried out on Sephadex LH-20 column using ethyl acetate as eluent, homogenous symmetrical peak was obtained, and thin layer chromatography on silica gel confirmed that purified fraction is diosgenin in compression to standard diosgenin and the calculated Rf values. The antioxidant scavenging activity was carried out using 2, 2, 1 diphenyl- 1- picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) assay, the result showed that purified diosgenin has an antioxidant activity 13.68 μg/ml while the corresponding values for vitamin C and butylated hydroxyl toluene were 8.43 and 7.26 μg/ml respectively. Fifteen adult Albino male rats were randomly and equally divided into three groups, and treated for six weeks as follows; G1 group served as control, G2: Animals of this group were received drinking water containing 0.75% H2O2 and atherogenic diet, Group 3; Rats of this group were given drinking water containing 0.75% H2O2 and atherogenic diet plus 40 mg purified diosgenin/ kg B.W. dissolved in 0.5 ethyl acetate daily by gavages needle. Fasting blood samples were collected by cardiac puncture technique at 0, third and sixth weeks of experiment. The results revealed that rats in G2 exposed to oxidative stress (0.75% H2O2 plus atherogenic diet) showed a significant elevation (P<0.05) in serum total cholesterol (TC), triacylglycerol (TAG), low density lipoprotein- cholesterol (LDL-C) as well as in malondialdehyde (MDA), and significant suppression in serum high density lipoprotein- cholesterol (HDL-C) and glutathione (GSH) concentrations in comparison to the animals in the first group (G1 group). Intubation of 40 mg/kg B.W. of purified diosgenin was caused a significant alteration in the lipid profile of the treated group (G3), manifested by significant reduction (P<0.05) in serum TC, TAG, LDL-C and significant elevation in HDL-C. Antioxidant status also exhibits significant changes manifested by an elevation of serum GSH and reduction in MDA concentration in G3 group animals. This study has shown the significant role of diosgenin as hypolipidemic agent and its role in restores of the oxidative stress.