Effect of hesperidin and naringin on the plasma lipid profile and plasma antioxidant activity in rats fed a cholesterol-containing diet

The objective of this study was to compare the influence of hesperidin and naringin, the main flavonones of orange and grapefruit, on plasma lipid profile and antioxidant activity in rats fed a cholesterol-containing diet. Sixty male Wistar rats were randomly divided into six groups of 10, named Control, Hesperidin, Naringin, Chol, Chol/Hesperidin and Chol/Naringin. The Control group was fed a basal diet (BD) and 1-2 mL of distilled water. To the BD of the other five groups were added 0.1-0.2 mg of hesperidin dissolved in 1-2 mL of distilled water (Hesperidin group), 0.46-0.92 mg of naringin in 1-2 mL of water (Naringin group), 1% of non-oxidised cholesterol (NOC) and 1-2 mL of water (Chol), 1% of NOC and 0.1-0.2 mg of hesperidin in 1-2 mL of water (Chol/Hesperidin), 1% of NOC and 0.46-0.92 mg of naringin in 1-2 mL of water (Chol/Naringin). After 30 days of the experiment it was found that the diets supplemented with hesperidin and naringin increased the plasma antioxidant activity. In conclusion, diets supplemented with hesperidin and naringin significantly hindered the increase in plasma lipid levels caused by cholesterol feeding. Hesperidin and naringin, bioactive compounds of citrus fruits, are powerful plasma lipid lowering and plasma antioxidant activity increasing flavonones.