Antihyperlipidemic effect of aqueous extract of Plumbago zeylanica roots in diet-induced hyperlipidemic rat

Abstract

This study examined the antihyperlipidemic effect of the aqueous extract of Plumbago zeylanica Linn. (Plumbaginaceae) roots in diet-induced hyperlipidemic rats. The oral administration of the aqueous extract at the dose of 20, 40, and 80 mg kg⁻¹ were found to ameliorate the hyperlipidemic condition as evidenced by a reduction of cholesterol and triglyceride levels. The standards fenofibrate (20 mg kg⁻¹) and atorvastatin (8 mg kg⁻¹) were also found to exhibit significant (p < 0.05) cholesterol and triglyceride lowering effect. Further, the aqueous extract at all doses demonstrated a significant (p < 0.05) increase in fecal cholesterol excretion indicating a reduction in intestinal cholesterol absorption. Additionally, the activity of lipogenic enzymes like HMGCoA reductase in the liver remained significantly (p < 0.05) low on treatment of aqueous extract (80 mg kg⁻¹), thus decreasing the cholesterogenesis. The aqueous extract (20, 40 and 80 mg kg⁻¹) also significantly (p < 0.05) reduced the total lipid content in the liver. Moreover, the aqueous extract demonstrated a potential antioxidant capacity in DPPH and TBARS in vitro antioxidant assay. Thus the results suggest a beneficial role of aqueous extract of Plumbago zeylanica roots in ameliorating the hyperlipidemic condition leading to atherosclerosis.

Keywords::

• Antihyperlipidemic activity
• cholesterol
• fecal cholesterol
• HMGCoA reductase
• Plumbago zeylanica
• triglyceride
• total lipid

Acknowledgement

The authors are thankful to the University Grant Commission (UGC), New Delhi, India for providing financial assistance.

Declaration of interest: The authors report no conflicts of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of the paper.