Antihyperlipedemic Activity of Woodfordia fruticosa Extract in High Cholesterol Diet Fed Mice
Nishu Khera, Aruna Bhatia · 2012
The aim of the present study was to investigate the potential role of methanolic flower extract of Woodfordia fruticosa in lowering lipid parameters in mice fed a high cholesterol diet. Swiss albino mice were randomly divided into five groups of six and were administered either: 0.5 ml water (negative controls); 30 mg cholesterol (hypercholesterolemic animals); MEWF (methanolic extract of Woodfordia fruticosa flowers) at 400mg/kg body weight (positive control); or the same doses of both cholesterol and the extract (test animals); Atorvastatin at 10mg/kg body weight (drug control). The effects of MEWF on the lipid profile were assessed by measuring concentrations of total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-c), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-c), and very low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (VLDL-c). Administration of cholesterol showed significant elevation (p < 0.001) of TC, LDL-c, VLDL-c, and TG concentrations, and of the TC: HDL-c ratio (p < 0.05). Administration of MEWF extract in cholesterol fed mice caused a significant decrease (p < 0.001) in the concentrations of serum TC, LDL, VLDL TGs as well as TC: HDL-c ratio when compared with cholesterol fed control mice and results were also comparable to that of drug control group. These results suggest lipid-lowering effects of, Woodfordia fruticosa which serves as a new potential natural product for preventing hyperlipidemia.