Efeitos da fração flavonoídica da própolis sobre o metabolismo de colesterol, em coelhos com hipercolesterolemia experimental

• Autor(a) principal: Mesquita, F. F.
• Data de Publicação: 2007
• Outros Autores: Rueda, B. Z., Tardivo, A. C., Alves, M. J.Q.F. [UNESP]
• Tipo de documento: Artigo
• Idioma: por
• Título da fonte: Repositório Institucional da UNESP
• Texto Completo: http://hdl.handle.net/11449/224899
• topic: Cholesterol; Flavonoids; Propolis; Rabbits

The bee products have been calling man's attention since the beginning of the civilizations. Among them, it stands out the propolis, rich in flavonoids, which have an antioxidant power, exercising protecting action to the lipoprotein LDL-cholesterol against the lipid peroxidation. Hence, the present work has evaluated whether the flavonoids of the Botucatu's propolis (Botucatu-SP) affected the levels of plasma cholesterol in rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus) submitted to the rich diet in cholesterol. The animals were divided in three groups: C (n=2) - they received commercial fodder and water for the whole period ; S (n=2) - they received normal fodder and water in the first period and supplemented fodder and water in the second and third periods; S+F (n=5) - they received normal fodder and water in the first period, supplemented fodder and water in the second period and supplemented fodder and extract rich in flavonoids in the third period. The flavonoids were administered diluted in water, being in the concentration of 0.04 mL kg-1 of animal. The samples of blood were collected weekly after fast of 14 hours from the marginal vein of the ear to determine the plasma levels of total cholesterol and their fractions. The flavonoids of the propolis reduced the plasma concentration of total cholesterol in 31 % (327.5 mg dL-1 for 226.9 mg dL -1) in the rabbits treated with flavonoids, while in the animals of the group S those levels were reduced discreetly (343.3 mg dL-1 for 290.8 mg dL-1). The animals of the group C maintained this biochemical parameter in the normality strip for the whole period (50 mg dL -1). The results obtained with the cholesterol fractions HDL and LDL show that the flavonoids was efficient in reducing LDL in 35% (297.3 mg dL -1 for 193.3 mg dL-1) and to increase HDL in 20% (22.1 mg dL-1 for 23.3 mg dL-1). Therefore, we concluded that flavonoids, which exercise antioxidant action in the metabolism of the cholesterol could be considered a substance of action in the combat against hypercholesterolemia.