Characterization of ultrasonically extracted flaxseed polysaccharide gum and assessing its lipid-lowering potential in a rat model.

Flaxseed polysaccharide gum (FPG) was extracted through the ultrasound-assisted process using water as a solvent with a yield ranging from 8.05 ± 0.32% to 12.23 ± 0.45% by changing different extraction variables. The extracted FPG was analyzed for its functional groups and antioxidant potential. The maximum DPPH (2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl) free radical scavenging activity (≈100%) of FPG was noted at concentrations beyond ≈10 mg·ml -1 . The maximum inhibition percentage through ABTS (2,2'-azino-bis 3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (72.4% ± 1.9%) was noted at 40 mg·ml -1 , which was observed to be less when compared to DPPH at the same concentration. The total antioxidant potential of the FPG solution at a concentration of 10 mg·ml -1 was equivalent to 461 mg ascorbic acid, which tends to increase with concentration at a much lower scope. The in vivo trial suggested that the least weight gain was noted in experimental groups G 2 and Gh 2 . A significant reduction in total cholesterol was noticed in G 1 (-14.14%) and G 2 (-17.72%) and in Gh 1 (-22.02%) and Gh 2 (-34.68%) after 60 days of the trial compared to the baseline values. The maximum reduction in total triglyceride was observed in Gh 2 (-25.06%) and Gh 1 (-22.01%) after 60 days of the trial. It was an increasing trend in high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-c) in different experimental groups G 2 (10.51%) than G 1 (5.35%) and Gh 2 (48.96%) and Gh 1 (31.11%), respectively, after 60 days of study interval. Reduction of -5.05% and - 9.45% was observed in G 1 and G 2 , while similar results were observed in Gh 1 and Gh 2 . Conclusively, results suggested a possible protective role of FPG against hyperlipidemia.