title: Hypolipidaemic and antioxidant effect of Enicostemma littorale Blume aqueous extract in cholesterol fed rats.
abstract: Enicostemma littorale aqueous extract (1.5 g/100 g body weight/day, p.o.) was administered to rats along with hypercholesterolaemic diet for 6 weeks and the hypolipidaemic and antioxidant effect was evaluated. Feeding cholesterol increased serum cholesterol, serum triglycerides, LDL, VLDL and decreased HDL levels as compared to normal diet fed rats. Enicostemma littorale treatment increased HDL levels and decreased serum cholesterol, triglyceride, LDL, VLDL, LDL/HDL ratio. In addition, treatment with the extract showed a decrease in activities of erythrocyte catalase, superoxide dismutase and lipid peroxidation levels, with an increase in reduced glutathione levels as compared to cholesterol fed untreated rats. Liver and kidney cholesterol levels and triglyceride levels were also decreased in Enicostemma littorale treated rats. Hepatic HMG CoA reductase activity was significantly reduced in the extract treated hypercholesterolemic rats. Lovastatin was used as a reference drug. The hypolipidaemic and antioxidant effect of Enicostemma littorale aqueous extract in cholesterol fed rats is being reported for the first time.
authors.affiliation: M.S. University of Baroda, Faculty of Science, Department of Biochemistry, Vadodara, Gujarat 390002, India.
authors.forename: Vihas T
authors.initials: VT
authors.lastname: Vasu
authors.forename: Hiren
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Modi
authors.forename: Jyoti V
authors.initials: JV
authors.lastname: Thaikoottathil
authors.forename: Sarita
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Gupta
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001835:Body Weight / Q000187:drug effects; D002374:Catalase / Q000378:metabolism; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood; D002791:Cholesterol, Dietary / Q000008:administration & dosage; D029965:Gentianaceae; D006903:Hydroxymethylglutaryl CoA Reductases / Q000378:metabolism; D000960:Hypolipidemic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007194:India; D008297:Male; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology*; D010946:Plants, Medicinal; D051381:Rats; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D002791:Cholesterol, Dietary; D000960:Hypolipidemic Agents; D010936:Plant Extracts; D014280:Triglycerides; D002784:Cholesterol; D006903:Hydroxymethylglutaryl CoA Reductases; D002374:Catalase