title: Hypolipidemic effect of fenugreek seeds and its comparison with atorvastatin on experimentally induced hyperlipidemia.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the hypolipidemic effect of fenugreek (Methi) seeds and its comparison with atorvastatin on experimentally induced hyperlipidemia in rabbits.
  
  
  METHODS
  Experimental interventional study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Department of Physiology, Dr. S. N. Medical College, Jodhpur, Rajasthan, India, from April 2012 to March 2013.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty, 1 - 2 years old albino rabbits of European Strains were randomly divided into two groups of 10 rabbits each. All were fed pure cholesterol (0.5 g/kg body weight/day) for 4 weeks to induce hyperlipidemia. Group-I comprised of 10 hyperlipidemic rabbits which were fed normal (regular) diet supplemented with 2 ml aqueous emulsified fenugreek seeds powder (500 mg/kg body weight/day) for 4 weeks. Group-II comprised of 10 hyperlipidemic rabbits, which were fed normal (regular) diet supplemented with 2 ml aqueous emulsion of atorvastatin (0.5 mg/kg body weight/day) for 4 weeks. Fasting blood samples were collected two times during experimental period at weeks (4 and 8) and analyzed for serum total cholesterol and triglycerides, using semi-automated chemistry analyzer. HDL-C was determined by precipitation method and LDL-C and VLDL-C were estimated by Friedewalds formula. LDL/HDL ratio and TG/HDL ratios were also calculated. The significance of difference in mean values of both groups (lipid profile) was assessed by independent student's t-test.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Atorvastatin showed a more potent hypolipidemic activity. It reduced serum total cholesterol, TG, LDL and VLDLcholesterol, and the atherogenic index (LDL-C/HDL-C; p < 0.001) highly significantly as compared to fenugreek. There was a significant increase of HDL-C (p < 0.01) in group-I as compared to group-II.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Fenugreek and atorvastatin both have hypolipidemic activity in rabbits but atorvastatin is more potent than fenugreek seeds powder.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology, R.N.T. Medical College, Udaipur, Rajasthan, India.
authors.forename: Megh Shyam
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Sharma
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology, C.U. Shah Medical College, Surendranagr (Gujarat), India.
authors.forename: Prema Ram
authors.initials: PR
authors.lastname: Choudhary
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000924:Anticholesteremic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000069059:Atorvastatin; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL / Q000097:blood; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL / Q000097:blood; D006538:Heptanoic Acids; D006949:Hyperlipidemias / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy*; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007194:India; D050356:Lipid Metabolism; D008055:Lipids / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D008517:Phytotherapy; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011758:Pyrroles; D011817:Rabbits; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood; D029910:Trigonella
chemical_list: D000924:Anticholesteremic Agents; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL; D006538:Heptanoic Acids; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents; D008055:Lipids; D010936:Plant Extracts; D011758:Pyrroles; D014280:Triglycerides; D002784:Cholesterol; D000069059:Atorvastatin