Medicinal Herbs of Pakistan Used in Blood Disorders

Research Article

J Blood Disord. 2019; 6(1): 1056.

Medicinal Herbs of Pakistan Used in Blood Disorders

Murad S1*, Tufail S2, Shah S3, Sheikh DM4, Mastoi AG5, Shah J6 and Niazi MF7

1Pharmacology at IMDC, Pakistan

2Department of Pharmacology at SZMC, Pakistan

3Department of Gynecologist at NMC, Pakistan

4Department of Microbiology at JSMU, Pakistan

5Department of Community Welfare at IMDC, Pakistan

6Department of Clinical Psychology at Bahria University, Pakistan

7Department of Radiology at BAMC Multan, Pakistan

*Corresponding author: Murad S, IM&DC, Pharmacology at IMDC, Islamabad, Pakistan

Received: November 22, 2019; Accepted: December 30, 2019; Published: December 31, 2019

Abstract

High plasma lipids, especially LDL-cholesterol, and low HDL-cholesterol in presence of or frequent formation of free radicals in various metabolic pathways in human body may lead to development of atherogenesis, CAD. Isomer of Vitamin E alpha tocopherol has antioxidant effects like other hypolipidemic drugs used in allopathy. Ziziphus Jujube is medicinal plant having hypolipidemic potential. We conducted study on comparison of hypolipidemic effects of these two agents. Study was placebo-controlled conducted in Jinnah Hospital, Lahore from December 2015 to February 2016. Ninety hyperlipidemic patients were divided in three equal groups including 30 patients in each group. Their base line LDL-cholesterol and HDL-cholesterol was determined and kept in their personal file. Group-1 was on placebo, Group-2 was on Vitamin E 400 mg twice daily for two months. Group-3 was on half Kg Jujube per day for two months. After two months therapy their post treatment LDL and HDL-cholesterol was determined. When analyzed statistically, results showed non-significant effects of herbal fruit/drug Jujube on HDL-cholesterol but significant role on LDL-cholesterol reduction. While vitamin E has highly significant reduction potential in LDL-cholesterol and significant effects on HDL-cholesterol with p-value <0.01. We concluded from the study that Z. Jujube has antioxidant potential by lowering LDL-cholesterol in human plasma. However, this effect is not comparable with hypolipidemic effects of Vitamin E as it also increases good cholesterol i.e. HDL-cholesterol.

Introduction

Elevated levels of total cholesterol and low-density lipoproteins (LDL) in plasma are major risk factors for the development of atherosclerosis [1]. Much evidence provides support for the concept that the oxidized form of LDL causes oxidative stress and increases intracellular Ca in the vessel wall, and represents the pathogenic element in hypercholesterolemia [2,3]. Release of oxidant species from activated leukocytes, such as superoxide radical and hydroxyl radical, in principle, contributes to the oxidation of LDL. Thus, a strategy directed at the use of antioxidants such as vitamin E has been advocated to decrease the susceptibility of LDL to oxidation by interrupting free radical peroxidative chain reactions and to increase the resistance to atherosclerosis by protecting against endothelial dysfunction in hypocholesterolemic patients [4]. VITAMIN E is lipid-soluble, chain-breaking antioxidant. Structural analyses have revealed that molecules having vitamin E antioxidant activity include four tocopherols (α, β, γ, δ) and four tocotrienols (α, β, γ, δ) [5]. One form, α-tocopherol, is the most abundant form in nature [6]. Alpha-Tocopherol is an important lipid-soluble antioxidant. It performs its functions as antioxidant in the glutathione peroxidase pathway and it protects cell membranes from oxidation by reacting with lipid radicals produced in the lipid peroxidation chain reaction. This removes the free radical intermediates and prevents the oxidation reaction from continuing. The oxidized α-tocopheroxyl radicals produced in this process may be recycled back to the active reduced form through reduction by other antioxidants, such as ascorbate, retinol or ubiquinol [7]. Vitamin E is transported in the blood by the plasma lipoproteins and erythrocytes. Chylomicrons carry tocopherol from the enterocyte to the liver, where they are incorporated into parenchymal cells as chylomicron remnants. The catabolism of chylomicrons takes place in the systemic circulation through the action of cellular lipoprotein lipase. During this process tocopherol can be transferred to high-density lipoproteins (HDLs). The tocopherol in HDLs can transfer to other circulating lipoproteins, such as LDLs and very low-density lipoproteins (VLDLs). During the conversion of VLDL to LDL in the circulation, some a-tocopherol remains within the core lipids and thus is incorporated in LDL. Most a-tocopherol then enters the cells of peripheral tissues within the intact lipoprotein through the LDL receptor pathway, although some may be taken up by membrane binding sites recognising apolipoprotein A-I and A-II present on HDL [8-11]. Jujube fruit is known to contain considerable amount of phenolic compounds, including chlorogenic acid, gallic acid, protocatechuic acid and caffeic acid [12]. It has been proved by researchers that level at which LDL oxidizes, decreases linearly with increasing phenolic concentration in plasma. Phenolic compounds are able to bind to LDL and this may account for the increase in LDL resistance to oxidation [13]. It is also possible that increases in HDL-cholesterol concentrations may contribute to the suppression of LDL oxidation and that polyphenolic compounds present in Jujubi may contribute to an elevation in HDL cholesterol [14].

Citation: Murad S, Tufail S, Shah S, Sheikh DM, Mastoi AG, Shah J, et al. Medicinal Herbs of Pakistan Used in Blood Disorders. J Blood Disord. 2019; 6(1): 1056. ISSN 2379-8009