Antiatherogenic, Hypolipidemic and Antiinflammatory Benefits of Black Tea and Zanthoxylum Zanthoxyloid

The use of medicinal plants in the treatment of ailments is increasing around the globe. This study assessed the antihyperlipidemic and antiatherogenic benefits of black tea (BT) and Z. zanthoxylum (Zz) in rats. Thirty two albino rats were randomly divided into eight groups each containing four animals. Group 1 normal control; animals in groups 2, 3 and 4 were fed standard diet supplemented with BT or ZZ or a combination of both at equal amounts (3% each), respectively. Animals in group 5 are control rats, fed diet supplemented with cholesterol and groundnut oil at a dose level of 100 g and 300g/25 kg diet respectively. Rats in groups 6, 7 and 8 were fed the same high lipid diet but supplemented with BT, Z.z or mixture of both respectively. Lipid enriched diet caused a significant increase in total cholesterol, total lipids, and triacylglycerols in both serum and liver. Serum phospholipids, LDL-C, and atherogenic index significantly increased compared with normal control group. BT and Zz significantly increased fecal total lipids, total cholesterol and triacylglycerol levels as well as significantly increased serum malondialdehyde, interleukin-2 and tumour necrosis factor-alpha compared to healthy control. Consumption of black tea, Zanthoxylum zanthoxyloid or a combination mixture of them by healthy and hyperlipidemic hypercholesterolemic rats resulted in significantly decreased lipid parameters in serum and liver and significant reduced lipid peroxidation and inflammation. These results suggest that both black tea and Zanthoxylum zanthoxyloidhad anti-atherogenic and hypolipidemic effects and reduced oxidative stress via inhibition of inflammation and lipid peroxidation.