Effect of Garcinia Atroviridis on Oxidative Stress and Atherosclerotic Changes in Experimental Guinea Pigs

Problem statement: Oxidative stress plays a major role in hypercholesterolemia induced atherosclerosis. Garcinia atroviridis has been shown to exhibit antioxidant properties. Approach: The present study aimed to investigate the effect of Garcinia atroviridis on the oxidative stress in guinea pigs fed with high cholesterol diet. Twenty-four male Guinea pigs were divided into four groups. Group I served as control while group II, III, IV were fed with 1% cholesterol diet in rabbit chow pellet, fed with both 1% cholesterol diet plus 50 mg body^-1 weight of Garcinia atroviridis, fed with Garcinia atroviridis only (50 mg mL^-1 water body^-1 weight), respectively. All animals were sacrificed by cardiac puncture and the blood was collected for the determination of malonaldialdehyde and DNA damage using comet assay and histology of the aorta was performed. Results: The results showed a significant increase in the percentage of DNA damage in the tail and in the tail moment (comet assay) in the group II compared to the group I. Group III showed pattern of reduction in the percentage of DNA damage by 42% and tail moment by 50% compared to the group II. There were no significant changes in the MDA levels in serum, liver and heart in all groups. Histological studies in group III showed a tendency in the reduction of the fat deposition in the aorta and number of foam cells compared to the group II. Conclusion: The supplementation with Garcinia atroviridis reduced the DNA damage and deposition of lipids in the wall of the aorta in hypercholesteromic guinea pigs.