Antihyperlipidemic effect of the methanolic extract from Lagenaria siceraria Stand. fruit in hyperlipidemic rats.
BACKGROUND
Lagenaria siceraria Stand. (Cucurbitaceae) fruits have been used, traditionally, in the treatment of hyperlipidemia and atherosclerotic impasse and considered as cardioprotective and cardiotonic drug.


OBJECTIVE
The present work was undertaken to investigate the effects of methanolic extract from Lagenaria siceraria in experimentally induced hyperlipidemia in rats.


METHODS
Methanolic extract of Lagenaria siceraria fruits (LSFE) (100, 200 and 300 mg/kg; p.o.) was administered to the high fat-diet-induced hyperlipidemic rats for 30 days to evaluate its antihyperlipidemic activity. Atorvastatin (10mg/kg; p.o.) was used as a standard drug.


RESULTS
At the 30 th day, most significant reduction in lipid levels in the LSFE treated rats as compared to the rats fed with high-fat diet at the 0th day were: total cholesterol 290.14+/-18.42 mg/dl vs. 228.58+/-16.38 mg/dl, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol 195.14+/-8.86 mg/dl vs. 120.57+/-8.11 mg/dl, triglyceride 232.41+/-15.22 mg/dl vs. 181.79+/-15.68 mg/dl, very low-density lipoprotein cholesterol 46.48+/-3.04 mg/dl vs. 36.35+/-3.13 mg/dl (P<0.0001). Conversely, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels were significantly (P<0.0001) increased from 48.52+/-6.52 to 71.66+/-5.14 mg/dl. The increase in weight in rats administered with LSFE was less when compared to rats fed with high-fat diet. Moreover, LSFE also exhibited significant increase in excretion of bile acids.


CONCLUSIONS
The results demonstrate that the LSFE has a definite antihyperlipidemic potential. There is also a valid scientific basis for consuming it in the treatment of coronary artery diseases in India.
Ghule
B V
BV
Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research, Department of Pharmacognosy and Phytochemistry, Borgaon (Meghe), Wardha, Maharashtra 442 001, India. ghulebv@rediffmail.com
Ghante
M H
MH
Saoji
A N
AN
Yeole
P G
PG
D000818:Animals; D000924:Anticholesteremic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000069059:Atorvastatin; D001647:Bile Acids and Salts / Q000378:metabolism; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood*; D019662:Cucurbitaceae; D004041:Dietary Fats; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005243:Feces / Q000737:chemistry; D005638:Fruit; D006538:Heptanoic Acids / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006949:Hyperlipidemias / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy*; D000960:Hypolipidemic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D008517:Phytotherapy; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011758:Pyrroles / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood*; D015430:Weight Gain / Q000187:drug effects
D000924:Anticholesteremic Agents; D001647:Bile Acids and Salts; D004041:Dietary Fats; D006538:Heptanoic Acids; D000960:Hypolipidemic Agents; D010936:Plant Extracts; D011758:Pyrroles; D014280:Triglycerides; D002784:Cholesterol; D000069059:Atorvastatin