title: Antihypercholesterolemic effect of Bacopa monniera linn. on high cholesterol diet induced hypercholesterolemia in rats.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To explore the effect of alcoholic extract of Bacopa monniera (AEBM) on high cholesterol diet-induced rats.
  
  
  METHODS
  The shade-dried and coarsely powdered whole plant material (Bacopa monniera) was extracted with 90% ethanol, finally filtered and dried in vacuum pump. The experimental rats were divided into 4 groups: control (group-I), Rats fed with hypercholesterolemic diet (HCD) for 45 days [4% cholesterol (w/w) and 1% cholic acid], Rats fed with HCD for 45 days+AEBM (40mg/kg, body weight/day orally) for last 30 days (group-III) and AEBM alone (group-IV). Blood and tissues (Aorta) were removed to ice cold containers for various biochemical and histological analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  AEBM treatment significantly decreased the levels of TC, TG, PL, LDL, VLDL, atherogenic index, LDL/HDL ratio, and TC/HDL ratio but significantly increased the level of HDL when compared to HCD induced rats. Activities on liver antioxidant status (SOD, CAT, GPx, GR, GST) were significantly raised with concomitant reduction in the level of LPO were obtained in AEBM treated rats when compared to HCD rats. Treatment with AEBM significantly lowered the activity of SGOT, LDH and CPK. Histopathology of aorta of cholesterol fed rat showed intimal thickening and foam cell deposition were noted.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results suggests that AEBM extended protection against various biochemical changes and aortic pathology in hypercholesterolemic rats. Thus the plant may therefore be useful for therapeutic treatment of clinical conditions associated hypercholesterolemia.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Biochemistry, Dr. A.L.M. Post Graduate Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, University of Madras, Taramani Campus, Chennai - 600113, Tamil Nadu, India.
authors.forename: Venkatakrishnan
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Kamesh
authors.forename: Thangarajan
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Sumathi
mesh_terms: D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000818:Animals; D000924:Anticholesteremic Agents / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000378:metabolism; D001011:Aorta / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology; D034681:Bacopa / Q000737:chemistry*; D002374:Catalase / Q000378:metabolism; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood*; D002791:Cholesterol, Dietary / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D059305:Diet, High-Fat; D000431:Ethanol / Q000737:chemistry; D005978:Glutathione / Q000378:metabolism; D006937:Hypercholesterolemia / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology / Q000378:metabolism; D015227:Lipid Peroxidation / Q000187:drug effects; D008074:Lipoproteins / Q000097:blood; D008099:Liver / Q000187:drug effects / Q000201:enzymology / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D010743:Phospholipids / Q000097:blood; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase / Q000378:metabolism; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D000924:Anticholesteremic Agents; D000975:Antioxidants; D002791:Cholesterol, Dietary; D008074:Lipoproteins; D010743:Phospholipids; D010936:Plant Extracts; D014280:Triglycerides; D000431:Ethanol; D002784:Cholesterol; D002374:Catalase; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase; D005978:Glutathione