Effects of Asparagus racemosus Root Extracts on Serum Lipid Profiles , Lipid Peroxidation and Superoxide Dismutase in Ovariectomized Rat

Taepongsorat and Phadungkit: Lipid profile of AR root extract in Ovariectomized Rat Pharmacognosy Journal, Vol 10, Issue 5, Sep-Oct, 2018 1037 AR has recently been shown to contain 10 steroidal saponins11 and racemofuran.12 Rat liver mitochondria were protected by aqueous extracts due to the prevention of radiation-induced loss of protein thiols while SOD was inactivated13 along with oxidative stress and hepatotoxicity amelioration.14 The objective of this research was to investigate the effects of Asparagus racemosus root extract (AR) on serum lipid profiles, liver function, renal function, lipid peroxidation and superoxide dismutase (SOD) in ovariectomized rats. MATERIALS AND METHODS Plant Material The plant roots of AR were collected from Khonkaen province, Thailand and identified by the authors. The voucher specimens were deposited at the Pharmaceutical Chemistry and Natural Product Research Unit, Faculty of Pharmacy, Mahasarakham University, Thailand (MSU. PH-LIL-AR1). The roots were washed thoroughly with tap water and dried at 37oC in an incubator, and then cut into small pieces that were powdered finely before being using for the extractions. The extractions were performed using soxhlet apparatus and concentrated to dryness under a reduce pressure and a controlled temperature using evaporator and a freeze-dryer, respectively. For the experiments, 500 mg/kgBW of the dried extracts were used. Experimental Animals and Design Female Wistar rats at seven weeks old, weighing approximately 150-180g from the National Laboratory Animal Center, Mahidol University, Salaya Campus, Thailand were used for the experiment. Four rats were housed in one well ventilated standard rat cage under standard conditions (26±2 oC, 12 h light-dark cycle) with ad libitum access to drinking water and fed standard rat chow (CP mia feed No.082). The care and procedures adopted for the present investigation were in accordance with the approval of the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee, Mahasarakham University (IACUC-MSU), Thailand (Approval number 0011/2016). After a seven day adaptation period, the rats were operated on and randomized into five groups, with five rats in each group, as follows: Group 1; sham group (SH): the same surgical procedure was performed in the sham-operate rats except that the ovaries were not removed. The sham rats received the vehicle without any substance. Groups 2-5; the surgical procedure was performed and the ovaries were removed. Group 2: control group (OVX); OVX rats received the vehicle without any substance. Groups 3-4: treatment groups; OVX rats received 500 mg/kgBW of aqueous extract (OAAR) or ethanolic extract of the AR roots (OEAR), respectively. Group 5: OVX rats received 17α-ethynylestradiol 0.1 mg/ kgBW for a positive control (OEE). Each rat received their substances by feeding needle, daily for five weeks. All treatments were initiated precisely 10 days after surgery. Their body weights were recorded every day during the experimental period. At the end of the experiment, the rats were sacrificed under anesthesia and blood was collected immediately by cardiac puncture; serums were separated by centrifugation. The liver, kidney and uterus were excised, weighed and kept at -80oC until analyzed. Biochemical parameters analysis Biochemical parameters, such as blood glucose (BG), liver function test: serum aspartate aminotransferase (AST), serum glutamate pyruvate transaminase (ALT), renal function test: blood urea nitrogen (BUN), creatinine (Cr) and lipid profiles: triglyceride (TG), total cholesterol (TC), low density lipoprotein (LDL) and high density lipoprotein (HDL) were measured in a Clinical Autometric Chemistry Analyzer (Tecom 6060 L) at the M-LAB, Mahasarakham laboratory, Thailand using standard laboratory techniques. Lipid peroxidation and SOD antioxidant enzyme activity The liver, kidney and uterus tissues were homogenized in a potassium chloride buffer with a tissue homogenizer and lipid peroxidation was estimated according to the method of Ohkawa.15 Concentrations were determined from a standard curve using Tetramethoxpropane (TMP) and expressed as nmol of malondialdehyde (MDA) formed per 100 mg protein of tissue. The method of Lowry et al.16 was used to examine the protein content. Superoxide dismutase (SOD) activities in liver, kidney and uterus homogenates were determined using the nitrobluetetrazolium reduction method with Sigma-Aldrich determination kit (product number 19160). Statistical analysis All data were presented as a mean ± SEM.A one-way ANOVA followed by a Student’s t-test were used to determine the statistical significance. P-values < 0.05 were considered as statistically significant.


INTRODUCTION
Previous work has indicated that there is an increased risk of coronary heart disease under the menopause as a result of differences in the clotting and fibrinolytic factors, lipid profile and vessel function. 1For over 30 years blood metabolism has been improved by estrogen replacement, while for 20 years there has been increased use of a combined estrogen-progesterone treatment. 2There are also concerns associated with synthetic estrogen such as cancer (endometrial and breast), interference with a natural process and vaginal bleeding. 3Phytoestrogens are assumed to produce minimal side effects and studies have shown that phytoestrogens are effective in the prevention and amelioration of the metabolism of sex hormones and blood lipids in women who are postmenopausal. 4paragus racemosus (AR), also called shatavari, is a member of the familly Liliaceae, an Indian climbing plant.While in Thailand, AR is known as rak-sam-sib

Effects of Asparagus racemosus Root Extracts on Serum Lipid Profiles, Lipid Peroxidation and Superoxide Dismutase in Ovariectomized Rat
AR has recently been shown to contain 10 steroidal saponins 11 and racemofuran. 12Rat liver mitochondria were protected by aqueous extracts due to the prevention of radiation-induced loss of protein thiols while SOD was inactivated 13 along with oxidative stress and hepatotoxicity amelioration. 14he objective of this research was to investigate the effects of Asparagus racemosus root extract (AR) on serum lipid profiles, liver function, renal function, lipid peroxidation and superoxide dismutase (SOD) in ovariectomized rats.

Plant Material
The plant roots of AR were collected from Khonkaen province, Thailand and identified by the authors.The voucher specimens were deposited at the Pharmaceutical Chemistry and Natural Product Research Unit, Faculty of Pharmacy, Mahasarakham University, Thailand (MSU.PH-LIL-AR1).The roots were washed thoroughly with tap water and dried at 37ºC in an incubator, and then cut into small pieces that were powdered finely before being using for the extractions.The extractions were performed using soxhlet apparatus and concentrated to dryness under a reduce pressure and a controlled temperature using evaporator and a freeze-dryer, respectively.For the experiments, 500 mg/kgBW of the dried extracts were used.

Experimental Animals and Design
Female Wistar rats at seven weeks old, weighing approximately 150-180g from the National Laboratory Animal Center, Mahidol University, Salaya Campus, Thailand were used for the experiment.Four rats were housed in one well ventilated standard rat cage under standard conditions (26±2 ºC, 12 h light-dark cycle) with ad libitum access to drinking water and fed standard rat chow (CP mia feed No.082).The care and procedures adopted for the present investigation were in accordance with the approval of the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee, Mahasarakham University (IACUC-MSU), Thailand (Approval number 0011/2016).After a seven day adaptation period, the rats were operated on and randomized into five groups, with five rats in each group, as follows: Group 1; sham group (SH): the same surgical procedure was performed in the sham-operate rats except that the ovaries were not removed.The sham rats received the vehicle without any substance.Groups 2-5; the surgical procedure was performed and the ovaries were removed.Group 2: control group (OVX); OVX rats received the vehicle without any substance.Groups 3-4: treatment groups; OVX rats received 500 mg/kgBW of aqueous extract (OAAR) or ethanolic extract of the AR roots (OEAR), respectively.Group 5: OVX rats received 17α-ethynylestradiol 0.1 mg/ kgBW for a positive control (OEE).Each rat received their substances by feeding needle, daily for five weeks.All treatments were initiated pre-cisely 10 days after surgery.Their body weights were recorded every day during the experimental period.At the end of the experiment, the rats were sacrificed under anesthesia and blood was collected immediately by cardiac puncture; serums were separated by centrifugation.The liver, kidney and uterus were excised, weighed and kept at -80ºC until analyzed.

Lipid peroxidation and SOD antioxidant enzyme activity
The liver, kidney and uterus tissues were homogenized in a potassium chloride buffer with a tissue homogenizer and lipid peroxidation was estimated according to the method of Ohkawa. 15Concentrations were determined from a standard curve using Tetramethoxpropane (TMP) and expressed as nmol of malondialdehyde (MDA) formed per 100 mg protein of tissue.The method of Lowry et al. 16 was used to examine the protein content.Superoxide dismutase (SOD) activities in liver, kidney and uterus homogenates were determined using the nitrobluetetrazolium reduction method with Sigma-Aldrich determination kit (product number 19160).

Statistical analysis
All data were presented as a mean ± SEM.A one-way ANOVA followed by a Student's t-test were used to determine the statistical significance.P-values < 0.05 were considered as statistically significant.

Vaginal cellular differentiation
Daily vaginal smear cytology was used to identify the estrous cycle phases of the rats, as regular cycles are required.The vaginal smear was examined from all rats every morning for 35 days (five weeks).Sham rats had a normal estrous cycle.Until the experiment was completed, the ovariectomized rats showed the diestrous phase (leukocyte cells).In the positive control rats, vaginal cells showed maturation in response to 17α-ethynylestradiol at a dose of 0.1 mg/kgBW on the third day during the 35 day exposure period.Both the aqueous and ethanolic extracts of the AR roots induced significant cornification cells when compared to the OVX group on the fifth day of the exposure period.

Body Weight and Organs Weight
The body and organs weight are in Table 1.The OVX group had rapid weight gain in the week following ovariectomy, which remained higher than every other group for five weeks.At the end of the experiments, the OVX group tended to increase in final body weight when compared to the SH and both treated groups.Body weight in the OEE group began to significantly decrease in the first week after the start of the treatment when compared with OVX group.The SH and treatment groups showed a gain in body weight but this alteration was less than that in the OVX rats.The treatment with aqueous and ethanolic extracts significantly increased in the body weight when compared to the positive control group.
The changes in the uterine weight and relative uterine weight are shown in Table 1.The OVX group had the significantly lowest uterine weight and relative uterine weight.The uterine weight in the OEE group was significantly increased when compared with the OVX group, whereas the relative uterine weight in the OEE group was also significantly increased when compared with the OVX and SH groups.Whereas uterine weight and relative uterine weight in the OAAR, OEAR groups were significantly decreased when compared with the SH and OEE groups.
The uterine weight and relative uterine weight of the treated groups were significantly increased in comparison with the OVX group.
The liver weight and relative liver weight of the OVX group were not significantly different when compared with the SH, OEE and OEAR groups.In the OAAR group, liver weight and relative liver weight were significantly lower than in the SH, OVX and OEE groups.The relative liver weight of the OEE group was increased significantly when compared with the SH and OVX groups.The relative liver weight of the OAAR group was significantly lower than the OEE group.The relative liver weight of the OEAR was decreased significantly when compared with the OEE group.The kidney weight and relative kidney weight of the OVX group had no significant differences when compared with the SH, OEE and OEAR groups.The kidney weight of the OEE and OAAR groups decreased significantly when compared with the OVX group.The relative kidney weight of the OAAR group decreased when compared with the SH, OVX and OEE groups.

Effects of extracts on serum AST, ALT, BG, BUN, Cr
The results of the blood biochemical tests in rats are shown in Table 2.
The serum AST, ALT, BUN, Cr and BG did not change with the treatment.
These results showed that the extract at a daily dose of 500 mg/kgBW in ovariectomized rats for five weeks had no effects on liver or kidney function and serum blood glucose.

Effects of extracts on serum lipid profiles
The effects of the AR root extracts on the serum lipid profiles are summarized in Table 3.Compared with the SH group, serum TC and LDL tended to increase in all groups.However, serum TC and LDL showed no significant differences in any groups.
In the OEAR group, the serum TG level was significantly lower than in the SH group.The serum TG of the OAAR and OEAR groups were not significantly different when compared with the OVX group.
The serum HDL level in the OEE group was significantly higher than in the SH and OVX groups.The serum HDL of the OAAR and OEAR groups was significantly lower than the OEE group.

Effects of extracts on MDA and SOD
The levels of MDA and SOD in the tissues are shown in Table 4.In liver, the MDA level was significantly increased, whereas the SOD level wassignificantly decreased in the OVX and OEE groups when compared with the SH group.The MDA levels in the liver of the OAAR and OEAR groups were significantly decreased when compared with the OVX and OEE groups.The SOD level in the liver of the OAAR group was significantly increased when compared with the OVX and OEE groups.The SOD level in the liver of the OEAR group was significantly decreased when compared with the SH group.The MDA and SOD levels in the kidney of the OVX group showed no significant differences.The MDA levels in the kidney tissue of the OEE group were significantly decreased when compared with the SH group, while the SOD level was significantly increased when compared with the SH group.The MDA levels in the kidney tissue of the OAAR group were significantly decreased when compared with the SH group, whereas the SOD showed no significant difference.The SOD level in the kidney tissue was significantly decreased in the OEAR when compared with the OEE group.The MDA levels in the uterine of the OVX, OAAR and OEE groups showed no significant differences.In the OEAR group, the MDA and SOD levels in the uterine tissue were significantly increased when compared with the OEE group.The SOD level in the uterine tissue were significantly increased in the OVXgroup and tended to increase in the OAAR and OEAR groups.The SOD level in the uterine tissue was significantly decreased in the OEE group.

DISCUSSION
Cornification of the epithelial cells was induced via synthetic estrogens and phytoestrogens and their estrogenic activity. 17After ovariectomy, all the rats had leucocyte populations affirming the complete removal of the ovaries. 188] In this study, cornification cells in positive control, OEE group responded to 17α-ethynylestradiol at a daily dose of 0.1 mg/kgBW on the third day, 17β-ethynylestradiol at a daily dose of 50 µg/kgBW 19 and estradiol valerate at a dose of 1 mg/kgBW on the fifth day of the exposure period. 20oth aqueous and ethanolic extracts of the root of AR induced significant cornification of cells on the fifth day of the exposure period.In this study, the cornification of the vaginal smear in the OVX rats treated with the AR extract can be attributed to its estrogenic potential.
Estrogen was found to have an important regulatory effect on female adipose deposition [21][22][23] and may also play an important regulatory role in adipocyte metabolism. 24Ovarian hormone withdrawal leads to significant increases in body weight and visceral fat, serum adiponectin and triglyceride. 25It is well documented that post ovariectomy, estrogen withdrawal leads to the accumulation of energy store (fat deposition) and subsequently an increase in the body weight of animals. 26The wellknown elevation of body weight involves a shift in energy metabolism due to ovarian hormone deficiency. 26Adiponectin is the most abundant protein derived from adipocytes, 27 and changes in other biological markers in adipose tissue may be a physiological response to maintain sensitivity to insulin in women who have experienced the menopause. 28In this study, the body weight gains in SH, OVX, OAAR and OEAR rats were similar, but the body weight gain in OEE rats decreased.The dose and type of estrogen may affect weight gain due to a regulatory role in adipocyte metabolism.Treatment with 17α-ethynylestradiol caused significant decrease in body weight.In OVX animals it was possible for there to be a substantial reduction in body weight via estrogen replacement therapy, due to improved insulin sensitivity, but without an increase in adiponectin production meaning that the beneficial metabolic effects of the weight loss were from a mechanical perspective. 29ne of the challenges associated with the menopause is weight gain due to increased visceral fat, which was linked to as diabetes, hypertension and dyslipidemia. 30There is mild obesity in the ovariectomized animal model so it can help indicate how adiposity is altered by hypoestrogenism. 31In the present study, ovariectomized rats experienced a gain of body weight that was in agreement with previous studies, 22,25 which is due to an increase of abdominal fat.The uterine weight decreased in the OVX group and increased in the OEE group. 32Atrophy of uteri in the OVX group demonstrated the decrease in estrogen secretion.Admin-istration of the AR extract increased uterine weight although not as potently as estrogen.These results imply that the AR extract contains a weak estrogenic effect in vivo as well as in vitro.Uteri undergo innumerable physiological and biochemical changes under the influence of ovarian hormones such as estrogen and progesterone. 33Administration of estrogenic substances to ovariectomized rats often leads to proliferative changes in the uterine endometrium. 34As the OVX rats had lost their ovaries there was a significant reduction in uterine weight when comparingto the SH rats.The uterine weight increased significantly when 17α-ethynylestradiol was administered.Animals treated with the AR root extract showed a significant increase in their uterine weight compared with the OVX group.6] Inovariectomized rats the traditional way to indicate the estrogenic potency and efficacy has been via uterotrophic effects. 37here were no significant changes in the lipid profiles of male rats administered with the AR root powder. 38In this study, female rats administered with the aqueous and ethanolic extracts of the AR roots also had no significant changes in their lipid and antioxidant profiles.Estrogen increased HDL and TG while decreasing LDL and fat deposition in OVX animal models. 39As for the lipid profile, many studies have reported that the lipid profile undergoes changes during menopause and ovariectomy.
In women, the menopause is associated with increased concentrations of TC, TG, LDL and decreased concentrations of HDL. 40In the present study, TG and HDL levels were increased in ovariectomized rats treated with 17α-ethynylestradiol, but there were no significant differences in TC and LDL levels.Camara et al. 25 and Antunes et al. 41 indicated that in ovariectomized rats there were no significant changes in the levels of TC and LDL as in our present study.There was a significant difference in the lipid profiles between the OEE and SH groups.From these results it is possible that the lipid profile is regulated due to estrogen.][44] Estrogen has been reported as a beneficial factor in preventing cardiovascular diseases, like atherosclerosis, by keeping cholesterol levels low in premenopausal women.Menopausal women lose this protection because of a dramatic decrease in estrogen levels as a result of natural atrophy of the ovaries. 45Ovariectomized rats were observed with increased levels of cholesterol, HDL and triglycerides. 20Whereas ovariectomized rats treated with an estradiol vale rate showed decreases in the levels of these makers. 20In this study, there were not significant differences in cholesterol, triglyceride, HDL and LDL levels in the ovariectomized groups.
Ovariectomized rats treated with 17α-ethynylestradiol were found to have increased triglyceride and HDL levels.Ovariectomized rats treated with AR root extracts were not significantly different in the lipid profile levels compared with the SH and OVX groups.Ovariectomized rats had no significant differences in HDL, LDL and TG but had increased TC.The estrogen group had elevated levels of LDL and TC. 46There were increases in the HDL levels and decreases in the LDL levels that were greater than those expected just from the postmenopausal period and old age. 47In this study, AR did not differ in the lipid profiles.
Oxygen free radicals damage membranes and biological structures, but the damage can be prevented by SOD that removes superoxide radical. 48he toxic free radicals can be removed by scavenging enzymes, such as SOD and CAT, in vivo.Reduced activities of SOD in the liver have been observed in ovariectomized rats and this results in a number of deleterious effects due to the accumulation of super oxide radicals. 49xidative stress was found to be inhibited by the AR root extracts as assessed by a decrease in liver and kidney MDA levels.Ovariectomized rats exhibited elevated levels of MDA and enzymic antioxidants SOD in uterine.Elevations in the SOD activity may be a compensatory mechanism for chronic overproduction of free radicals and oxidative stress inuterine of ovariectomized rats. 50he precipitation of cholesterol can be induced in vitro via steroid glycosides, such as digitonin and tomatine [51][52] but they also prevent in vivo absorption affecting bile acid, 52 the size and structure of micelles can be affected by several triterpenoid saponins, 53 which causes changes in the absorption of bile acid as well inhibiting the absorption of cholesterol. 51,53n addition, saponins can result in reduced plasma LDL levels via the turnover of LDL to hepatic tissue being increased, and this becomes bile acid. 54Saponins have been reported to prevent pancreatic lipase activity by lowering TG, 55 and from this when the VLDL levels reduce there could be a direct link to TG levels decreasing, 56 however, this current work does not suggest any significant alterations on the TG or VLDL levels in the studied groups, and the possible mechanism for this is still unknown.This work found that there were no significant differences between any of the groups for the TC in the serum.Due to saponins interfering with the enterohepatic circulation of bile acids and precipitating cholesterol from micelles they can prevent the intestinal absorption of cholesterol that limits the plasma cholesterol levels.

CONCLUSION
The results presented here support the use of estrogen in regulation of lipid profiles.AR root extracts have low effects on lipid profiles under this dose and duration treatment used here.The capacity of the extracts to decrease the MDA level and increase the SOD levels in this study clearly reflect the antioxidant efficiency of the AR root extracts.

Table 1 :
Body weight, uterine weight, relative uterine weight, liver weight, relative liver weight, kidney weight and relative kidney weight (mean ± SEM).