PURPOSE: To study the effect of egg plant on endothelium-dependent relaxation, and plasma lipids in hypercholesterolemic rabbits, and to assess influence of this plant on the malondialdehyde (MDA) content of LDL particles and the arterial wall. METHODS: Thirteen male rabbits were randomly assigned to control (C), hypercholesterolemic (H) and egg plant (E) treated groups (n=10 each). The H and E rabbits were fed a diet supplemented with cholesterol (0.5%) and coconut oil (10%) for 4 weeks. In addition, group E received 10mL of the fruit juice/day during the last 2 weeks.The animals were killed and the aorta removed to measure MDA content and the endothelium dependent relaxation responses. Total plasma cholesterol, VLDL, LDL, HDL and triglyceride levels were determined using commercial kits. MDA was quantified in native and oxidized LDL and in the arterial wall. RESULTS: After 4 weeks, the E group rabbits had a significantly lower weight , plasma cholesterol, LDL, triglyceride and aortic cholesterol contentthan group H(p<0.05). The MDA content that was significantly increased in the LDL particles and in the arterial wall of H rabbits was reduced in the E group (p<0.05). Endothelium-dependent relaxation were significantly higher in the E group compared H group rabbits (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: In hypercholesterolemic rabbits egg plant juice significantly reduced weight, plasma cholesterol levels, aortic cholesterol content and the MDA concentrations in native-oxidized LDL and in the arterial wall and increased the endothelium-dependent relaxations.
eggplant; cholesterol; oxidized LDL
