PROTECTIVE EFFECTS OF MACROTYLOMA UNIFLORUM SEEDS (HORSE GRAM) IN ABNORMALITIES ASSOCIATED WITH THE METABOLIC SYNDROME IN RATS

Macrotyloma uniflorum Lam. (Verdc.) known as horse gram is an underutilized and unexplored legume distributed throughout Asia and Africa. Its seeds are rich in antioxidant phenolic acids, ferulic acid being the most potent one. The present study evaluates the protective effects of a hydroalcoholic extract of the seeds of Macrotyloma uniflorum (MUSE) and ferulic acid in hyperlipidemia and cardiac abnormalities associated with the metabolic syndrome in rats. Isolation and quantification of ferulic acid from MUSE was carried out by HPTLC and HPLC respectively. Abnormalities associated with the metabolic syndrome were induced in rats by administering them fructose (25% w/v) in drinking water for 45 days. MUSE (200mg/kg and 400mg/kg), ferulic acid (80mg/kg) and the standard drug gemfibrozil (60mg/kg) were administered to rats along with fructose. MUSE and ferulic acid treatments elicited significant cardioprotective activity by attenuating the fructose-elevated activities of the marker enzymes AST, LDH and CK-MB in serum and by restoring the fructose depleted activities of these enzymes in heart. Both treatments attenuated significantly the fructose elevated malondialdehyde levels, and restored the fructose depleted glutathione levels and activities of the antioxidant enzymes superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione peroxidase and glutathione reductase in heart. A significant alteration in lipid profile, notable decrease in cardiac hypertrophy, left ventricular hypertrophy, heart collagen and blood glucose levels, and improved glucose tolerance was observed in the treatment groups when compared with the fructose fed animals. The present findings suggest that MUSE may be useful as an adjuvant for the management of hyperlipidemia and cardiac abnormalities associated with the metabolic syndrome. The potent antioxidant activity of its phenolic phytoconstituents, particularly ferulic acid, may be a major factor towards this activity.