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Antioxidants in Fig (Ficus carica L.) and their Effects in the Prevention of Atherosclerosis in Hamsters

Received: 14 June 2014    Accepted: 28 June 2014    Published: 10 July 2014
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Abstract

Phenolics are an important constituent of fruit quality because of their contribution to the taste, color and nutritional properties of fruit. This study aimed to determine the level of phenolics in fig. In addition, it is also to study their impact on early atherosclerosis. The used methodology was by feeding 30 hamsters which were grouped into three groups. Each group has equally of 10 hamsters. These three groups were fed standard diet, atherogenic diet, atherogenic diet with dried fig (0.6 gm/ kg body weight). During 8 weeks of this study trial, hamster body weight and its liver weight were measured. Subsequently, blood samples were collected for the following tests which are; total cholesterol level, High Density Lipoprotein Cholesterol (HLD), low Density Lipoprotein Cholesterol (LDL), Triglycerides (TG) and liver enzymes Aspartate amino transferase (AST), Alanine amino transferase (ALT). The analysed phenolics present at the highest content were gallic acid (30.99 mg per 100 g DW), followed by epigallocatechine (25.44 mg per 100 g DW), caffeine (20.23 mg per 100 g DW), catechine (13.88 mg per 100 g DW), epicatechine (12.48 mg per 100 g DW), rutin (3.26 mg per 100 g DW), epigallocatechine gallate (2.52 mg per 100 g DW). Significant increases in body weight and liver weight of hamsters fed atherogenic diet (P<0.05). On contrary, hamsters fed with fig diet they had insignificant decrease of body weight with significant decrease of their liver weight. Additionally, study has revealed significant increase of total cholesterol level, LDL, and TG among atherogenic diet group (P < 0.05). While hamster group fed with fig in diet showed a significantly decreased in the total cholesterol level, LDL, and TG. The HDL level was improved in the former group. However, liver enzymes (AST), (ALT) were increased significantly among group which was fed by atherogenic diet. But they were significantly decreased (P < 0.05) among those hamsters fed by fig.

Published in Journal of Food and Nutrition Sciences (Volume 2, Issue 4)
DOI 10.11648/j.jfns.20140204.17
Page(s) 138-145
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This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.

Copyright

Copyright © The Author(s), 2024. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Atherosclerosis, Antioxidants, Phenols, Fig, Total Cholesterol, HDL, LDL, TG, Liver Enzymes

References
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    Manal Said Tawfik, Mona Alhejy. (2014). Antioxidants in Fig (Ficus carica L.) and their Effects in the Prevention of Atherosclerosis in Hamsters. Journal of Food and Nutrition Sciences, 2(4), 138-145. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.jfns.20140204.17

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    ACS Style

    Manal Said Tawfik; Mona Alhejy. Antioxidants in Fig (Ficus carica L.) and their Effects in the Prevention of Atherosclerosis in Hamsters. J. Food Nutr. Sci. 2014, 2(4), 138-145. doi: 10.11648/j.jfns.20140204.17

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    AMA Style

    Manal Said Tawfik, Mona Alhejy. Antioxidants in Fig (Ficus carica L.) and their Effects in the Prevention of Atherosclerosis in Hamsters. J Food Nutr Sci. 2014;2(4):138-145. doi: 10.11648/j.jfns.20140204.17

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  • @article{10.11648/j.jfns.20140204.17,
      author = {Manal Said Tawfik and Mona Alhejy},
      title = {Antioxidants in Fig (Ficus carica L.) and their Effects in the Prevention of Atherosclerosis in Hamsters},
      journal = {Journal of Food and Nutrition Sciences},
      volume = {2},
      number = {4},
      pages = {138-145},
      doi = {10.11648/j.jfns.20140204.17},
      url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.jfns.20140204.17},
      eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.jfns.20140204.17},
      abstract = {Phenolics are an important constituent of fruit quality because of their contribution to the taste, color and nutritional properties of fruit. This study aimed to determine the level of phenolics in fig. In addition, it is also to study their impact on early atherosclerosis. The used methodology was by feeding 30 hamsters which were grouped into three groups. Each group has equally of 10 hamsters. These three groups were fed standard diet, atherogenic diet, atherogenic diet with dried fig (0.6 gm/ kg body weight). During 8 weeks of this study trial, hamster body weight and its liver weight were measured. Subsequently, blood samples were collected for the following tests which are; total cholesterol level, High Density Lipoprotein Cholesterol (HLD), low Density Lipoprotein Cholesterol (LDL), Triglycerides (TG) and liver enzymes Aspartate amino transferase (AST), Alanine amino transferase (ALT). The analysed phenolics present at the highest content were gallic acid (30.99 mg per 100 g DW), followed by epigallocatechine (25.44 mg per 100 g DW), caffeine (20.23 mg per 100 g DW), catechine (13.88 mg per 100 g DW), epicatechine (12.48 mg per 100 g DW), rutin (3.26 mg per 100 g DW), epigallocatechine gallate (2.52 mg per 100 g DW). Significant increases in body weight and liver weight of hamsters fed atherogenic diet (P<0.05). On contrary, hamsters fed with fig diet they had insignificant decrease of body weight with significant decrease of their liver weight. Additionally, study has revealed significant increase of total cholesterol level, LDL, and TG among atherogenic diet group (P < 0.05). While hamster group fed with fig in diet showed a significantly decreased in the total cholesterol level, LDL, and TG. The HDL level was improved in the former group. However, liver enzymes (AST), (ALT) were increased significantly among group which was fed by atherogenic diet. But they were significantly decreased (P < 0.05) among those hamsters fed by fig.},
     year = {2014}
    }
    

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  • TY  - JOUR
    T1  - Antioxidants in Fig (Ficus carica L.) and their Effects in the Prevention of Atherosclerosis in Hamsters
    AU  - Manal Said Tawfik
    AU  - Mona Alhejy
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    N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.jfns.20140204.17
    DO  - 10.11648/j.jfns.20140204.17
    T2  - Journal of Food and Nutrition Sciences
    JF  - Journal of Food and Nutrition Sciences
    JO  - Journal of Food and Nutrition Sciences
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    EP  - 145
    PB  - Science Publishing Group
    SN  - 2330-7293
    UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.jfns.20140204.17
    AB  - Phenolics are an important constituent of fruit quality because of their contribution to the taste, color and nutritional properties of fruit. This study aimed to determine the level of phenolics in fig. In addition, it is also to study their impact on early atherosclerosis. The used methodology was by feeding 30 hamsters which were grouped into three groups. Each group has equally of 10 hamsters. These three groups were fed standard diet, atherogenic diet, atherogenic diet with dried fig (0.6 gm/ kg body weight). During 8 weeks of this study trial, hamster body weight and its liver weight were measured. Subsequently, blood samples were collected for the following tests which are; total cholesterol level, High Density Lipoprotein Cholesterol (HLD), low Density Lipoprotein Cholesterol (LDL), Triglycerides (TG) and liver enzymes Aspartate amino transferase (AST), Alanine amino transferase (ALT). The analysed phenolics present at the highest content were gallic acid (30.99 mg per 100 g DW), followed by epigallocatechine (25.44 mg per 100 g DW), caffeine (20.23 mg per 100 g DW), catechine (13.88 mg per 100 g DW), epicatechine (12.48 mg per 100 g DW), rutin (3.26 mg per 100 g DW), epigallocatechine gallate (2.52 mg per 100 g DW). Significant increases in body weight and liver weight of hamsters fed atherogenic diet (P<0.05). On contrary, hamsters fed with fig diet they had insignificant decrease of body weight with significant decrease of their liver weight. Additionally, study has revealed significant increase of total cholesterol level, LDL, and TG among atherogenic diet group (P < 0.05). While hamster group fed with fig in diet showed a significantly decreased in the total cholesterol level, LDL, and TG. The HDL level was improved in the former group. However, liver enzymes (AST), (ALT) were increased significantly among group which was fed by atherogenic diet. But they were significantly decreased (P < 0.05) among those hamsters fed by fig.
    VL  - 2
    IS  - 4
    ER  - 

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Author Information
  • Department of Food Science and Technology, Faculty of Agriculture – Al Shtaby, Alexandria University, Alexandria, Egypt

  • Departemnt of Sciences and Medical Studies, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

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