Hypocholesterolemic and antiatherosclerotic effect of Flax lignan

Hypercholesterolemia, low HDL-C and oxygen radicals have been implicated in the development of atherosclerosis. Lignan complex isolated from Flaxseed (Linum usitatissimum Linn., Linseed, Hindi ⎯ Alsi) contains secoisolariciresinol diglucoside (SDG), 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaric acid (HMGA) and cinnamic acids. SDG and cinnamic acids are antioxidants and HMGA is a hypocholesterolemic agent. Antioxidants are known to reduce hypercholesterolemic atherosclerosis. Researchers at Department of Physiology, College of Medicine, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Sask, Canada carried out studies to determine if lignan complex reduces (i) serum cholesterol, (ii) oxidative stress, and (iii) atherosclerosis in hypercholesterolemic rabbits. Rabbits were assigned to four groups: Group I, control; Group II, lignan complex control (lignan complex, 40mg/kg body wt daily orally); Group III, 0.5% cholesterol; 58%. Serum HDL-C was elevated by 30% in hypercholesterolemic rabbits and by 25% in normocholesterolemic rabbits with lignan complex. Lignan complex did not affect the TC and LDL-C and serum MDA in the normocholesterolemic rabbits. However, it increased the aortic MDA in the normocholesterolemic rabbits. The results suggest that diet-induced hypercholesterolemic atherosclerosis is associated with an increase in the oxidative stress and that lignan complex reduced the extent of atherosclerosis by reducing oxidative stress and serum total cholesterol, LDL-C and TC/HDL-C ratio, and raising serum HDL-C. Lignan complex isolated from flaxseed may, therefore, be beneficial in preventing hypercholesterolemic, atherosclerosis and reducing risk factors for coronary artery disease [Prasad Kailash , Hypocholesterolemic and antiatherosclerotic effect of flax lignan complex isolated from flaxseed, Atherosclerosis, 2005, 179 (2), 269-275]. Hypocholesterolemic and antiatherosclerotic effect of Flax lignan