Abstract
This study was performed to investigate the effects of dry powders, ethanol extracts and juices of radish and onion on lipid metabolism, lipid peroxidation and antioxidative enzyme activity in rats. Forty-nine male Sprague-Dawley rats weighing 157$\pm$6g were blocked into seven groups according to body weight and raised for four weeks with diets containing 5%(w/w) dry powders of two different vegetables consumed frequently by Korean-radish(Raphanus sativus L.) and onion(Allium cepa L.), ethanol extracts and juices from equal amount of each dry powder. All the powders, ethanol extracts and juices of radish and onion decreased total lipids, triglycerides and total cholesterol concentrations in plasma and liver. Above all, onion ethanol extract decreased them most remarkably. It was thought that organosulfur compounds and flavonoids extracted from onion by ethanol inhibited biosynthesis and absorption of lipid and promoted degradation of lipid. Radish powder also decreased them by increasing fecal excretions of total lipids, triglycerides and total cholesterol most effectively. Catalase and glutathine peroxidase(GSH-px) activities in red blood cell(RBC) were most remarkably increased by radish powder and onion powder respectively. Superoxide dismutase(SOD), catalase and GSH-px activities in liver were most remarkably increased by onion ethanol extract, radish powder and onion ethanol extract respectively. Xanthine oxidase(XOD) activities in liver were most effectively decreased by ethanol extracts of radish and onion. Thiobarbituric acid reactive substance (TBARS) levels in plasma and liver of experimental groups were significantly lower than those of controls. Above all, onion powder decreased them most effectively. It was thought that vitamin E and high flavonoids in onion powder inhibited lipid peroxidation, promoting liver and RBC SOD, catalase and GSH-px activities and inhibiting XOD activities effectively. Flavonoids in onion ethanol extract inhibited lipid peroxidation, promoting three antioxident enzyme activities and inhibiting XOD activities most remarkably. Also flavonoids and high vitamin C in radish powder inhibited lipid peroxidation, promoting liver and RBC catalase most remarkably and inhibiting XOD activities. In conclusion, radish and onion were effective in lowering lipid levels and inhibiting of lipid peroxidation in animal tissue. From these data, radish and onion can be recommended in the treatment and prevention of diseases such as cardiovascular disease and cancer and in delaying aging. As ethanol from onion were most effective in lowering lipid level and promoting three antioxident enzymes, and inhibited lipid peroxidation as did we should try to utilize onion skin which is discarded though reported to have abundant flavonoids. (Korean J Nutrition 34(5) : 513~524, 2001)
