The Effects of the Extract of Rosa Canina L. On Lipid Profile, Liver and Thyroid Functions in Hypercholesterolemic Rats

Background: Rosa Canina L. is a medicinal plant with many therapeutic applications in traditional medicine. This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of the extract of Rosa Canina on liver function, lipid profiles and thyroid hormones in hypercholesterolemic rats. Methods: In this experimental study, 60 male Wistar rats were divided into 6 groups (n=10): the control group, hypercholesterolemic vehicle with a diet containing 2% cholesterol, hypercholesterolemia groups receiving either the extract of Rosa Canina L. at doses of 50, 500, 1000, or Atorvastatin at a dose of 10 mg/kg as gavage for 48 days. Results: The extract of Rosa Canina L lowered cholesterol and triglycerides from 96±1.3 and 111.8±4.8 in the vehicle group to 79.5±2.4, 98.7±3.5, 73.3±2.5 and 77.5±3.2 in the groups treated with the extract at doses of 500 mg/kg and 1000 mg/kg, respectively. The levels of liver enzymes including alanine transaminase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) were lowered significantly in the group treated with the extract at the dose of 500mg/kg and in the groups treated with the extract at the dose of 1000 mg/kg (P<0.05). The serum levels of thyroid-stimulating hormone and thyroxin in the group treated with the extract at the dose of 1000 and thyroxin at the dose of 500 mg/kg was reduced and the level of triiodothyronine increased compared with the hypercholesterolemic group (P<0.05). Conclusion: Rosa Canina L has healing effects on dyslipidemia and liver protection along with changes in thyroid hormones secretion pattern.