Effect of Gundelia tournefortii L. extract on lipid profile and TAC in patients with coronary artery disease: A double-blind randomized placebo controlled clinical trial

Abstract

Context: Gundelia tournefortii (GT) has been known to possess hypolipidemic and antioxidant activities. Objective: This study was carried out to evaluate the effects of GT on total antioxidant capacity (TAC) and lipid profile in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD). Materials and methods: A total of 38 angiographically confirmed CAD patients were enrolled in this randomized, double-blind, clinical trial. The subjects consumed G. tournefortii extract (GTE) or placebo for 8 consecutive weeks. Serum total cholesterol, triglyceride, high density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-c), low density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL-c) and TAC were determined by conventional methods. In addition, dietary intake was recorded using 24-h recall method and converted into nutrients with software Nut4 version1. Results: At the end of the study, the GTE group had recorded a significantly lower energy intake compared to the placebo group (p = 0.04). The BMI also significantly decreased in the GTE group by 3% (from 26.5 +/- 3.6 kg/m(2) at baseline to 25.9 +/- 3.6 kg/m(2) at the end of the trial). There was a significant reduction in total cholesterol level in the GTE group (151 +/- 23.8 mg/dl at baseline to 131.1 +/- 25.9 mg/dl at the end of the trial), however, its level increased slightly in the placebo group (133.5 +/- 22 mg/dl at baseline to 141.4 +/- 22.4 mg/dl at the end of the trial). The mean value of LDL-c level notably decreased in the GTE group from 86 +/- 26 to 60.58 +/- 29.9 mg/dl (p = 0.001). No significant differences were observed in the groups for HDL-c or triglyceride levels; however, TAC significantly changed in the two groups after the intervention. Conclusion: The intervention resulted in a statistically significant difference in total cholesterol, LDL-c and BMI suggesting that GTE may be an appropriate adjunctive medicinal plant to help reduce the major risk factors of CAD. (C) 2016 Elsevier GmbH. All rights reserved.