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ABSTRACT
Ten important plant parts routinely used in South Indian ethnic food preparation as spices and condiments were investigated for their potential antidyslipidemic properties. The aim of the study was to characterize the biochemical properties of the polyherbal formulation (nutritional supplement) and evaluate its use to control dyslipidemia in patients. Phytochemical evaluation, in vitro α-amylase inhibitory assay, and high performance thin layer chromatography (HPTLC) fingerprinting were carried out with alcoholic extracts of all 10 individual plants and with the nutritional supplement. Investigation in human volunteers was conducted to evaluate the effect on dyslipidemia as measured by serum lipid biomarkers. Sixty-five volunteers were recruited for this study. Biomarker values at baseline and at 6th visit (end of review, 8/9 months) were compared to assess the usefulness of the nutritional supplement in the normalization of lipid biomarkers. In the qualitative analysis of metabolites, the results revealed the presence of various bioactive primary and secondary metabolites that might be responsible for their medicinal attributes. In human volunteers, after supplement intake along with standard therapy, we observed significant decrease in serum cholesterol, triglyceride, low-density lipoprotein (LDL), and very low-density lipoprotein (VLDL) levels. High-density lipoprotein (HDL) level did not change in test patient volunteers. Reductions in hemoglobin A1C (HBA1C) and postprandial blood sugar levels were observed; the difference was not statistically significant. We believe that the polyherbal formulation of 10 medicinal plants has potent antidyslipidemic activity. Our results contribute for the first time toward documentation of augmented dyslipidemia control by use of the formulation.
Acknowledgment
This study forms a part of the doctoral thesis of Ms. S. Suganya to be submitted to VIT University, Vellore.
Declaration of interest
The authors declare no conflicts of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of the article.
About the authors
Subramanian Suganya, MSc, MPhil, is a PhD student in Sri Sakthi Amma Institute of Biomedical Research, Sri Narayani Hospital and Research Centre. Her research interests are primarily in ayurvedic sciences.
Subapriya Natarajan, MBBS, DDiab, is a senior consultant physician and diabetologist at Sri Narayani Hospital and Research Centre. Her research interests are primarily in diabetes research and complementary medicine.
Duraipandian Chamundeeswari, MPharm, PhD, FICS, is the head of the department of pharmacognosy and principal, college of pharmacy. She has more than 25 years of experience in pharmacognosy research. Her research interests are in plant formulations for diabetes, arthritis, wound healing and cancer.
Anand Anbarasu, MTech, PhD, is a senior faculty in the school of biosciences and technology. His research interests are bioinformatics, biotechnology and immunology.
Kunissery A. Balasubramanian, PhD, FAMS, FASc, FNASc, is a consultant biochemist in Sri Sakthi Amma Institute of Biomedical Research, Sri Narayani Hospital and Research Centre. He is one of the most eminent clinical biochemist in the country. He has been won many prestigious awards for his excellence in research in clinical biochemistry.
Lynn C. Schneider, MArch, has a masters of architecture degree from Harvard University. Her research interests are primarily in ayurvedic sciences.
Balaji Nandagopal, PhD, MACE, FIMSA, FACSc, MBA, is professor and director of Sri Narayani Hospital and Research Centre and director of Sri Sakthi Amma Institute of Biomedical Research. His research interests are in epidemiology of communicable and nom-communicable diseases.