Goutweed (Aegopodium podagraria L.) biological activity and the possibilities of its use for the correction of the lipid metabolism disorders

• Main Authors: O. Tovchiga, O. Koyro, S. Stepanova, S. Shtrygol’, V. Evlash, V. Gorban’, T. Yudkevich
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Odessa National Academy of Food Technologies 2017-12-01
• Series: Harčova Nauka ì Tehnologìâ
• Subjects: goutweed (Aegopodium podagraria L.); herbal raw material; herbal drugs; lipid metabolism; functional foods
• Online Access: http://journals.gsjp.eu/index.php/foodtech/article/view/726
• ISSN: 2073-8684; 2409-7004

<p>The article summarizes data concerning the biological activity of the promising herbal raw material: aerial part of goutweed (<em>Aegopodium podagraria L., Apiaceae)</em>. This plant since time immemorial has been used as vegetable and fodder plant as well as in folk medicine including the treatment of the metabolic disorders. Nowadays the interest in this plant increases. The technology of obtaining the extract and the tincture from goutweed aerial part is described, the chemical composition of these preparations is elucidated. Pharmacological effects of the preparations obtained from goutweed are characterized with the special emphasis on the possibilities of the lipid metabolism disorders correction and prevention. The presented experimental results substantiate the efficacy of goutweed extract and the tincture under the conditions of alimentary lipemia together with their safety in the intact animals. Thus, the hypolipidemic activity of goutweed extract (1 g/kg intragastrically) and goutweed tincture (1 cm³/kg intragastrically) was shown in the test with olive oil loading in rats. The extract appeared to be able to decrease significantly the level of triglycerides in blood plasma, while the tincture reduced the content of plasma total lipids. In the intact rats, the extract at doses of 100 mg/kg and 1 g/kg as well as the tincture at doses of 1 and 5 cm³/kg did not influence on the values of the lipid metabolism after 12 days of administration. Total and HDL cholesterol as well as atherogenic index and plasma total lipids level remained unchanged. In contast to the data previously obtained on the models of hyperuricemia, in the intact rats there were no changes in plasma uric acid concentration (which was determined proceeding from the role of the purine metabolism disorders in metabolic syndrome pathogenesis). Thus, goutweed preparations are characterized with the regulatory mode of action and sufficient level of safety. The development of drugs as well as functional foods containing goutweed herbal raw material is promising.</p>