Effects of ethyl acetate extracts of Marsilea crenata Presl. leaves on risks of atherosclerosis in dyslipidemic rats

Abstract

Background: Dyslipidemia is widely known as a significant contributor to the incidence of cardiovascular diseases (CVD). Over the years, traditional therapeutic strategies, including the use of herbs, have been recognized. Marsilea crenata Presl. (MC), or a plant known for its phytoestrogen content, has shown biological activities similar to oestrogen. These activities comprise the reduction of serum cholesterol levels, thereby having potential roles in managing dyslipidaemia and its associated cardiovascular risks.
Objective: This study aims to examine the effects of ethyl acetate extracts of MC leaves on the serum lipid profile of experimental rats with dyslipidaemia induced by high-fat diet (HFD).
Methods: This study applied a pretest-post-test study design with control group, involving 30 rats which are divided into 5 treatment groups, namely N (normal), HFD, STA (Simvastatin), MC₁, MC₂, and MC₃. Group N was only treated with standard feed, and the others received HFD on days 1-14. On the 15^th – 28^th day, the HFD group was treated with standard feed, and the STA group received simvastatin 0.36 mg/200 g BW/day. The groups of MC₁, MC₂, and MC₃ were treated with oral MC extracts at 100, 200, and 400 mg/kgBW, respectively. Their body weight was measured at the beginning of the study, as well as after 2 and 4 weeks. Subsequently, the experimental rats were fasted overnight on the 14^th and 28^th day. Their blood was collected on the 15^th day (pre-test) and 29^th day (post-test) to measure serum concentration of total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TG), and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-c). Low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-c) concentration was also calculated by using the Friedewald formula.
Results: MC₃ extracts significantly reduced the TC (-40.95 ± 1.77), TG (-46.12 ± 3.79), and LDL-c levels (-0.017 ± 0.010), and it also increased levels of HDL-c (11.28 ± 2.34) mg/dL in the HFD-induced rats.
Conclusion: Ethyl acetate extracts of MC leaves could reduce risk factors for atherosclerosis by returning lipid profile of the dyslipidemic rats to normal conditions with an increased dose.