seed powder has been reported to increase the plasma levels of high-density lipoproteins (HDL) or good cholesterol in ovariectomized rats. Six polyphenolic compounds mainly categorized as lignans, flavones, and serotonin derivatives were
found as the active ingredients that inhibited the cholesterol synthesis in liver Hep
G2 cells and reduced cellular contents of total cholesterol (Cho et al. 2000, 2004).
Water and ethanol extracts of safflower seeds containing phenolic compounds
have been reported to positively affect triglyceride levels in male rats and resulted in
increased HDL cholesterol ratio in total cholesterol. Plasma and hepatic lipids were
positively affected by supplementation of the diet with safflower extracts (Moon
et al. 2001). Cholesterol modifying and lowering effects of safflower have been
mainly attributed to serotonin derivatives, flavones, and lignans that are present in
safflower seeds. These polyphenolics have also been reported to improve the overall
status of lipids altered or weakened due to estrogen deficiency. The serotonin
derivatives in safflower seed extract have been reported to prevent atherosclerosis
and LDL oxidation in apolipoprotein-E deficient mice both ex vivo and in vitro,
respectively (Koyama et al. 2006).
Supplementation with safflower seed extracts in the diet has also been reported to
decrease inflammation and/or arterial stiffness and oxidative stress in healthy individuals (Koyama et al. 2008). Safflower seed polyphenols N-( p-coumaroyl)serotonin and the N-feruloylserotonin have also been reported to improve the elasticity of
the aorta wall in the Kurosawa and Kusanagi-hypercholesterolemic (KHC) rabbits
and ameliorate atherosclerosis (Katsuda et al. 2009). Polyphenols are also reported
to inhibit the progress of atherosclerosis and improve wall distensibility of arteries,
reduction in arterial stiffness and reduced cardiovascular risks were reported as the
therapeutic benefits of these extracts (Takimoto et al. 2011).
17.4.11 Hepatoprotective Activity
Safflower seeds are reported to contain or limit the damage or toxicity to the liver by
reducing total hepatic and plasma cholesterols, plasma triglycerides, and atherogenic
index in high cholesterol-fed rats. Moreover, the supplementation significantly
increased the activity of hepatic 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-coenzyme A
(HMG-CoA) reductase while significantly decreased the activity of hepatic acylcoenzyme A cholesterol acyltransferase (ACAT) (Moon et al. 2001).
Methanolic extracts of safflower seeds exhibited significant liver protection
effects in rats with carbon tetrachloride (CCl 4 )-induced hepatotoxicity. The antioxidant compound, dehydroabietylamine isolated from safflower seeds and leaves
displayed strong hepatoprotective effects in rats with CCl 4 -induced hepatotoxicity
(Paramesha et al. 2011). Dichloromethane extracts of safflower seeds have been
reported to decrease body weight and total cholesterol in hypercholesteremic rats fed
with 2% cholesterol diet (Arpornsuwan et al. 2010)
Another study by Rahimi et al. (2014) reported the decrease in levels of blood
glucose, triglycerides, LDL, total cholesterol, alanine aminotransferase (ALT),
17 Safflower (Carthamus tinctorius) Seed
443
found as the active ingredients that inhibited the cholesterol synthesis in liver Hep
G2 cells and reduced cellular contents of total cholesterol (Cho et al. 2000, 2004).
Water and ethanol extracts of safflower seeds containing phenolic compounds
have been reported to positively affect triglyceride levels in male rats and resulted in
increased HDL cholesterol ratio in total cholesterol. Plasma and hepatic lipids were
positively affected by supplementation of the diet with safflower extracts (Moon
et al. 2001). Cholesterol modifying and lowering effects of safflower have been
mainly attributed to serotonin derivatives, flavones, and lignans that are present in
safflower seeds. These polyphenolics have also been reported to improve the overall
status of lipids altered or weakened due to estrogen deficiency. The serotonin
derivatives in safflower seed extract have been reported to prevent atherosclerosis
and LDL oxidation in apolipoprotein-E deficient mice both ex vivo and in vitro,
respectively (Koyama et al. 2006).
Supplementation with safflower seed extracts in the diet has also been reported to
decrease inflammation and/or arterial stiffness and oxidative stress in healthy individuals (Koyama et al. 2008). Safflower seed polyphenols N-( p-coumaroyl)serotonin and the N-feruloylserotonin have also been reported to improve the elasticity of
the aorta wall in the Kurosawa and Kusanagi-hypercholesterolemic (KHC) rabbits
and ameliorate atherosclerosis (Katsuda et al. 2009). Polyphenols are also reported
to inhibit the progress of atherosclerosis and improve wall distensibility of arteries,
reduction in arterial stiffness and reduced cardiovascular risks were reported as the
therapeutic benefits of these extracts (Takimoto et al. 2011).
17.4.11 Hepatoprotective Activity
Safflower seeds are reported to contain or limit the damage or toxicity to the liver by
reducing total hepatic and plasma cholesterols, plasma triglycerides, and atherogenic
index in high cholesterol-fed rats. Moreover, the supplementation significantly
increased the activity of hepatic 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-coenzyme A
(HMG-CoA) reductase while significantly decreased the activity of hepatic acylcoenzyme A cholesterol acyltransferase (ACAT) (Moon et al. 2001).
Methanolic extracts of safflower seeds exhibited significant liver protection
effects in rats with carbon tetrachloride (CCl 4 )-induced hepatotoxicity. The antioxidant compound, dehydroabietylamine isolated from safflower seeds and leaves
displayed strong hepatoprotective effects in rats with CCl 4 -induced hepatotoxicity
(Paramesha et al. 2011). Dichloromethane extracts of safflower seeds have been
reported to decrease body weight and total cholesterol in hypercholesteremic rats fed
with 2% cholesterol diet (Arpornsuwan et al. 2010)
Another study by Rahimi et al. (2014) reported the decrease in levels of blood
glucose, triglycerides, LDL, total cholesterol, alanine aminotransferase (ALT),
17 Safflower (Carthamus tinctorius) Seed
443