Biological Potential and Chemical Profile of European Varieties of <i>Ilex</i>
Natalia Pachura,
Robert Kupczyński,
Jordan Sycz,
Agata Kuklińska,
Anna Zwyrzykowska-Wodzińska,
Katarzyna Wińska,
Aleksandra Owczarek,
Piotr Kuropka,
Renata Nowaczyk,
Przemysław Bąbelewski,
Antoni Szumny
Affiliations
Natalia Pachura
Faculty of Biotechnology and Food Science, Wrocław University of Environmental and Life Sciences, Norwida 25, 50-375 Wroclaw, Poland
Robert Kupczyński
Department of Environment, Animal Hygiene and Welfare, Wrocław University of Environmental and Life Sciences, Chełmońskiego 38C, 51-630 Wroclaw, Poland
Jordan Sycz
Faculty of Biotechnology and Food Science, Wrocław University of Environmental and Life Sciences, Norwida 25, 50-375 Wroclaw, Poland
Agata Kuklińska
Department of Environment, Animal Hygiene and Welfare, Wrocław University of Environmental and Life Sciences, Chełmońskiego 38C, 51-630 Wroclaw, Poland
Anna Zwyrzykowska-Wodzińska
Department of Environment, Animal Hygiene and Welfare, Wrocław University of Environmental and Life Sciences, Chełmońskiego 38C, 51-630 Wroclaw, Poland
Katarzyna Wińska
Faculty of Biotechnology and Food Science, Wrocław University of Environmental and Life Sciences, Norwida 25, 50-375 Wroclaw, Poland
Aleksandra Owczarek
Department of Pharmacognosy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Medical University of Lódź, Muszyńskiego 1, 90-151 Lodz, Poland
Piotr Kuropka
Department of Animal Physiology and Biostructure, Wrocław University of Environmental and Life Sciences, Norwida 31, 50-375 Wroclaw, Poland
Renata Nowaczyk
Department of Animal Physiology and Biostructure, Wrocław University of Environmental and Life Sciences, Norwida 31, 50-375 Wroclaw, Poland
Przemysław Bąbelewski
Department of Horticulture, Wrocław University of Environmental and Life Sciences, Grunwaldzki Square 24A, 50-363 Wroclaw, Poland
Antoni Szumny
Faculty of Biotechnology and Food Science, Wrocław University of Environmental and Life Sciences, Norwida 25, 50-375 Wroclaw, Poland
Plants of the genus Ilex are widespread throughout the world, with its best-known representative being Ilex paraguraiensis from South America. The European species Ilex aquifolium shows similarities in its terpenoid, sugar and phenolic acid profiles. Using aqueous extracts of Ilex aquifolium as a supplement in Wistar rats showed that, despite the lack of caffeine, it had strong hypocholesterolemic effects. In addition, a reduction in oxidative lipid degradation and a decrease in hepatic steatosis in histopathological studies were observed. The results of this study suggest that extracts from the European species Ilex aquifolium may have potential as an alternative treatment for hyperlipidemia.
