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ABSTRACT:
We investigated the antihyperlipidemic activity of Strychnos potatorum seeds. The current study was undertaken to assess the hypolipidemic, hypocholesterolemic and hypotriglyceridemic potential of the seeds using triton WR-1339 (Tyloxapol) induced hyperlipidemia in rats. The animals were divided into five groups: control, hyperlipidemic, hyperlipidemic plus Atorvastatin, hyperlipidemic plus Strychnos potatorum seed powder 100mg/kg and Strychnos potatorum seed powder 200mg/kg. Hyperlipidemia was induced by single intraperitoneal injection of triton WR 1339 at a dose of 400mg/kg. Intragastric administration of seed powder significantly (p<0.05) decreased serum total cholesterol, triglycerides, low density lipoprotein cholesterol, very low density lipoprotein cholesterol levels in rats in dose dependent and time dependent manner compared to hyperlipidemic group. Thus, the findings of the investigation suggest that Strychnos potatorum seeds exhibited quite competitive potential when compared with reference drug Atorvastatin against experimentally induced hyperlipidemia.
KEYWORDS: Antihyperlipidemic activity, Triton WR 1339, Strychnos potatorum seed, Atorvastatin
1. INTRODUCTION:
Experimental and epidemiological studies have suggested that hyperlipidemia is a highly predictive risk factor for atherosclerosis, coronary artery diseases (CAD) and cerebral vascular diseases; the primary causes of mortality in the developing countries like India.1 Secondly, prevalence of metabolic syndrome has been increasing rapidly in the past decade in most western countries also. Complications of metabolic syndrome are defined as a cluster of three of five criteria: insulin resistance and glucose tolerance, abdominal obesity, hypertension, low high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) and hypertriglyceridemia.2 So it is very important to pay attention to early stage prevention and control of hyperlipidemia in a comprehensive way. The allopathic hypolipidemic drugs, although available at large in the market, their popularity has been marred by numerous side effects, severe contraindications and exuberant cost.3 This has further necessitated the search for alternatives.
Plants are important sources of medicinal compounds and major portion of population in developing countries is dependent on traditional folk medicinal therapies for treating their ailments. This fact has been recognized by WHO and its recommendations include evaluation of traditional medicines in primary health care of these countries.4 The investigation on plant drugs will be a useful strategy in the discovery of new lead molecules eliciting improved activity by regulating different mechanisms that maintains the lipid metabolism and thus can be used in treating hyperlipidemia of varied etiology.5 Traditional system of...