ANTIHYPERLIPIDEMIC AND ANTIOXIDANT ACTIVITY OF AERIAL PARTS OF SWERTIA CHIRATA (BUCH-HAM) IN POLOXAMER 407 INDUCED HYPERLIPIDEMIC RATS

ABSTRACT

Hyperlipidemia is considered to be one of the greatest risk factors contributing to the prevalence and severity of cardiovascular diseases. The present study was undertaken to evaluate antioxidant and antihyperlipidemic effect of ethanolic extract of aerial parts of Swertia chirata (EESC). Although the herb Swertia chirata is ascribed with many therapeutic effects its antihyperlipidemic potential was unexplored. The study comprised of preliminary phytochemical investigation, antioxidant activity (by 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl and thiobarbituric acid reactive substances assay) and in vivo antihyperlipidemic activity of EESC. Oral administration of extract, at different doses of 100, 200, 400mg/kg body weight in rats, dose dependently inhibited serum total cholesterol, triglycerides, low density lipoprotein, very low density lipoprotein and increased high density lipoprotein levels. The treated group showed significant reduction in levels of hepatic cholesterol, hepatic triglycerides, and tissue malondialdehyde. And also showed elevation in catalase and reduced glutathione levels in dose dependent manner when compared to disease control group. Treatment also showed to decrease atherogenic indices which are powerful indicators of the risk of heart disease. The Atorvastatin was used as standard antihyperlipidemic drug in this study.

Key words: Antihyperlipidemia, Swertia chirata, Cholesterol, Atherogenic indices.