Hypolipidemic Effect of Sumac (Rhus Coriaria L) Fruit Powder and Extract on Rats Fed High Cholesterol Diet

Fruits of sumac (Rhus coriaria) are widely used spice which has several properties such as antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial. The present study was conducted to test the hypolipidemic effect of sumac fruit powder and extract under various concentrations against hyperlipidemia. Chemical composition, minerals content, total phenolic, flavonoid and antioxidant activity were determined. Forty two male albino rats were used in the study, they were distributed into six groups, (n=7 rats). Group 1 was fed on standard diet as a negative control (-ve). The other five groups were fed on basal diet containing 4% cholesterol and 1% cholic acid (HCD) for 8 weeks to induce hypercholesterolemia. Group 2 (positive control group) was fed on HCD only. Groups 3 and 4 were fed on HCD + sumac powder at 5 and 10% per kg diet. Groups 5 and 6 were fed on HCD + sumac extract at 0.5 and 1.0 g/kg b.w/day orally respectively. Results recorded that sumac is a source of dietary fibers, minerals, flavonoid, phenolic and antioxidants activity. The results indicated that positive group (+ve) showed significantly higher level of serum TC, TG , LDL-c, VLDL-c , urea, uric acid , creatinine, ALT, AST , ALP ,TNF α, MDA and acetyl cholinesterase (AChE) and decrease in serum HDL-c and SOD, while the groups treated with sumac powder at 5% and 10% and sumac extract at 0.5 and 1.0 g can reduce blood cholesterol and other lipids and improve liver and kidney function especially the level of 10% powder and 1.0g extract compared to positive group (+ve). It could be concluded that, fortified diets with 10% sumac powder and those which received sumac extract at 1.0 g had the best effect on hypercholesterolemic rats.