الفهرس 
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Abstract
This study aimed to determine chemical composition, antioxidant contents and antioxidant activity in pine nut fruits. In addition, to investigate the influence of pine nut powder with different percentages (3, 6 and 9%) on biological and histopathological changes of hypercholesterolemic rats. Biological parameters such as growth performance (body weight gain , feed intake and food efficiency ratio), lipid profile such as total lipids (TL), triglyceride (TG), cholesterol, high density lipoprotein HDL, low density lipoprotein (LDL) and very low density low protein (VLDL) were studied. Also, liver functions (AST, ALT and ALP), kidney functions (urea, uric acid and creatinine), serum protein and blood glucose were determined. The obtained results are summarized as follows as:
Chemical composition of pine nuts
The obtained results illustrated that total protein was 13.45%, ash 2.52%, crude fiber 8.6%, oil 55.38% moisture content 3.57%, total carbohydrates 25.08% and total soluble carbohydrate 16.48%. It is obvious from the results that total energy of pine nut fruits was 652.4 k.cal /100g on fresh weight basis). Pine nut fruits is considered as a good source of oil, protein, crude fibers, ash, and soluble carbohydrates.
Antioxidant contents
The obtained data showed that total phenols was 0.95 (gallic acid equivalent /kg, and total flavonoids 1.91 mg/g as quercetin equivalent /kg). It is evident from the results that DPPH radical scavenging activity was 89.17%. Pine nut fruits is considered as a good source of natural antioxidants such as phenols and flavonoids. Moreover, it has an antioxidant activity.
Fatty acids of pine nut
Results indicated that there are 12 fatty acids of pine oil could be identified by Gas liquied chromatography (GLC) analysis. It is evident from the results that, the predominant fatty acids were linoleic (C18:2) 51.81% and oleic (C18:1) 38.62% of the total fatty acids these. Pine nut fruit is a rich source of unsaturated fatty acids. On the other hand, palmatic acids (C16:0) 5.09% and was the predominant of saturated fatty acids (SFs). Moreover, total unsaturated fatty acids was 91.67%, meanwhile, total saturated fatty acids was 7.35%. Pine nut is a rich source of unsaturated fatty acids, linoleic acid was the major fatty acids which represent more than half amount of total fatty acids. In addition, oleic acid represent more than one-third of total fatty acids.
Biological parameters
Body weight
There were no significant difference (p<0.05) between negative control and groups of rats fed on diet supplemented by pine nut powder. It is worthy to mention that, body weight gain of rats which fed on diet containing pine nut powder was decreased. Food intake, feed efficiency ratio and body weight gain of hypercholesterolemic rats were significantly decrease (p<0.05) as the addition of pine nut level increased. Moreover, pine nut is useful for control the body weight. Pine nut powder was decreased organs weight (liver, kidney, spleen and heart) of hypercholesterolemic rats. Moreover, organs weight were decreased as the level of pine nut increased.
Lipid profile
Results showed that high significant difference (p<0.05) of total lipids between positive and negative control group of rats. Also, there are significant differences of total lipids within group of rats fed on different percentage of pine nut powder. Moreover, total lipids of hypercholesterolemic rats was decreased due to the addition pine nut powder to the diet. The higher percentage of pine nuts, the lower values of total lipids of rats was observed. Results revealed that high significant difference (p<0.05) of total cholesterol between negative and positive control and also within group of rats fed on pine nut powder. Total cholesterol of hpercholestertemic rats was decreased as the addition of pine nut powder increased. Total triglyceride was decreased as the level of pine nut powder increased. It could be concluded that total lipids, total cholesterol and total triglyceride values of hypercholesterolemic rats were significantly decreased (p<0.05) due to the addition of pine nut powder to the diet of rats.
Results showed that there were significant difference (P<0.05) among all group of rats in LDL-colesterol. Also, Very low density lipoprotein VLDL showed that same trend of results in LDLC. There were significant increased (P<0.05) in positive than negative control group. VLDL cholesterol values of hypercholesterolemic rats was decreased as the level of pine nut increased. Generally, it could be concluded that LDL and VLDL values of hypercholesterolemic rats were decreased due to the addition of pine nut to the diets. In contrast, HDL increased. The ratio of TG/HDL; LDL/ HDL and Atheroginic index were highly in positive than negative control. Feeding on diet containing pine nut powder caused a decrease in this ratio.
Liver functions
It is evident from the results that liver function of positive group was highly significant difference (P<0.05) than negative group. Diets containing pine nut powder showed significant decrease (P<0.05) in AST, ALT and ALP values of serum rats. Diet contained 9% pine nut showed the best results of liver enzymes and improved liver functions. Pine nut fruit caused a decrease in AST, ALT and ALP values of serum rats and improved liver functions.
Kidney functions
There were significant increase (P<0.05) in serum urea of positive than negative control group of rats. Also, hypercholesterolimic rats showed significant increase as (p<0.05) compared with negative control. Serum urea of rats fed on diet containing pine nut powder showed significant decrease (P<0.05) as compared with positive control group of rats. There are significant increase (P<0.05) in positive than negative control. Also, there are significant decrease (P<0.05) in serum urea in hypercholesterolemic rats fed on pine nut powder as compared with positive control group. Also, there are significant difference (P<0.05) among all groups of rats. Serum creatinine of hypercholesterolimic were significant decreased as the addition levels of pine nut powder increased. Pine nuts could improve kidney functions of urea, uric acid and creatinine in hypercholesteroleimic rats. Moreover, supplementing diet with 9% pine nut powder showed the best result of kidney functions.
Serum proteins
Total protein of hypocholesterolimic rats was significantly decreased (P<0.05) as compared with negative group. Moreover, diet containing pine nuts with the levels of 3, 6 and 9% increased total protein in serum rats. Both total serum protein and albumin were increased as the level of pine nut increased. Finally, pine nut fruit caused an increase in ether serum total protein or albumin and improved the level of blood proteins.
Histopathological results
Histopathological examination of heart tissue of hypercholesterolimic rats was confirmed biological results. Also, diets supplemented by pine nuts powder were improved heart tissue as compared to positive control group of rats.