A Study of the Antihyperlipidaemic and Antioxidant Activities of Aqueous Extract of Fruit Pulp of Cassia Fistula in Albino Rats

Abstract

The present study was designed to evaluate the antihyperlipidaemic and antioxidant activities of aqueous extract of fruit pulp of Cassia fistula. Aqueous extract was prepared by infusion method and acute oral toxicity tests were performed according to recent OECD guidelines. Hyperlipidaemia was induced in rats by giving high fat diet consisting of coconut oil and vanaspati ghee, in a ratio of 2:3 v/v at a dose of 10 ml/Kg body weight. The extract was given at a dose of 500mg/kgbody weight. For antihyperlipidaemic activity total cholesterol, Triglycerides, HDL Cholesterol and LDL cholesterol was measured, and for antioxidant activity MDA, CAT and SOD were measured using standard methods. The extract showed a significant decrease in total cholesterol, triglycerides, LDL and MDA in blood. On the other hand, HDL, CAT and SOD were increased significantly. The study demonstrates that the fruit pulp extract of Cassia fistula decreases blood lipid levels and lipid peroxidation.