Protective Effect of Peanut (Arachis hypogaea L) and Its Combination with Propranolol on Dyslipidemia in Isoproterenol Induced Cardiotoxic Rats
Authors: Naz Farah , Jahan Nasim , Sultana Nayma 
Published: May 2014

Background: Cardiotoxicity can be developed due to prolonged use of higher doses of some drugs, exposure to some chemicals, toxins or infectious agents and also by some disease conditions. Natural plant food such as peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.) may have free radical scavenging and lipid lowering activity, thereby, can be used for the prevention and management of heart disease. Objective: To observe the protective effect of peanut (Arachis hypogaea L) and its combined action with propranolol on dyslipidemia in Isoproterenol induced cardiotoxic rats. Methods: This experimental study was carried out in the Department of Physiology, Sir Salimullah Medical College (SSMC), Dhaka from January to December, 2012. Twenty Wistar albino rats, age 85-100 days, weighing 120 to 150g (initial body weight) were included in the experimental group (Group B, with peanut). They were further sub-divided into group B1 (isoproterenol treated group after peanut treatment), and group B2 (isoproterenol treated group after combined treatment of peanut and propranolol). Age and weight matched 30 Wistar albino rats without any peanut supplementation was taken as control (group A) and divided into three sub-groups, group A1 (baseline control), group A2 (isoproterenol treated control) and group A3 (isoproterenol treated control after propranolol treatment). Each subgroup consisted of 10 rats. After taking final body weight all the rats were sacrificed on 22nd day. Blood was collected from heart and supernatant serum was preserved in deep freeze until analysis. For assessment of lipid profile status, serum total cholesterol (TC), low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL- C) and high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) were estimated by standard method. The statistical analysis was done by one way ANOVA and Bonferroni test as applicable. Results: In this study, percent change from initial body weight to final body weight was significantly (p<0.01) lower both in isoproterenol treated group after peanut treatment and in isoproterenol treated group after combined treatment of peanut and propranolol as compared to that of baseline control. Again, this value was almost similar and the difference was not statistically significant between isoproterenol treated group after peanut treatment and isoproterenol treated group after combined treatment of peanut and propranolol. Again, the mean serum TC (p<0.01) and LDL-C (p<0.05) were significantly lower in isoproterenol treated group after peanut treatment and isoproterenol treated group after combined treatment of peanut and propranolol in comparison to those of isoproterenol treated control group. Moreover, the mean serum HDL-C was significantly (p<0.01) higher in isoproterenol treated group after combined treatment of peanut and propranolol, in comparison to that of isoproterenol treated control group. Furthermore, the mean serum TC and LDL-C were non significantly higher and serum HDL-C was significantly (p<0.01) higher in isoproterenol treated group after combined treatment of peanut and propranolol when compared to those of isoproterenol treated group after peanut treatment. Conclusion: The present study revealed that peanut alone can maintain blood lipid level by decreasing TC and LDL-C levels and by increasing HDL-C level in isoproterenol induced cardiotoxic rats. However, the combined therapy of peanut with propranolol showed synergistic effect on preventing dyslipidemia. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/jbsp.v8i2.18655 Bangladesh Soc Physiol. 2013, December; 8(2): 58-64