Effects of flavonoids from Moringa oleifera Leaves on the blood lipid metabolism in mice

The effect of total flavonoids from Moringa Oleifera Leaves (FMOL) on the body weight, serum lipid and liver of mice induced by high-fat diet were investigated. Totally 60 male mice were randomly divided into six groups: normal control group, high-fat control group, positive control group (Simvastatin), high-dose FMOL group, middle-dose FMOL group, and low-dose FMOL group. Mice in normal chow group were fed with normal diet, while the other of mice was fed with high-fat diet for five weeks. The related indexes and morphological changes in liver of mice were observed. The results show that FMOL could prevent the obesity induced by high-fat diet and reduce the liver coefficient. The serum total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) and arteriosclerosis index (AI) levels were also reduced. Furthermore, aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and malondialdehyde (MDA) levels of FMOL treatment group were decreased. In addition, the levels of high-density lipoprotein (HDL-C) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) in mice were improved. The research provides a scientific theoretical basis for further development of FMOL. (authors)