Abstract
Natural products derived from plants play a vital part in preventing or treating various diseases or disorders in humans. Hyperlipidemia is one of the main pathological features of diseases affecting the circulatory system and diabetes mellitus. Presently available lipid-lowering drugs have been linked with some side effects. Herbal treatment for hyperlipidaemia has significantly fewer or no side effects and is reasonably inexpensive and locally accessible. <i>Amaranthus spinosus</i> belongs to the family <i>Amaranthaceae</i> is well known by many researchers for its various medicinal properties and is also known as "pigweed." The present study sought to assess the antihyperlipidaemic activity of the leaf extract by in vivo animal models. Here, acute hyperlipidemia was induced by intraperitoneal administration of dexamethasone (10 mgkg<sup>-1</sup>). The ethanol extract of <i>A. spinosus</i> leaf (EEASL) was administered daily at single doses of 250 and 500 mgkg-1, to dexamethasone-induced hyperlipidaemic rats for 8 days. The effect of EEASL on serum lipid profiles (total cholesterol, triglycerides low-density, very low-density, and high-density lipoprotein) were determined. EEASL was established to significantly decrease total serum cholesterol, triglycerides, low-density lipoprotein, Very low-density lipoprotein, and increased serum high-density lipoprotein compared to the hyperlipidaemic and vehicle only control models. The activities were also paralleled to the outcome exhibited by a standard antihyperlipidaemic agent, atorvastatin. The present investigation established pharmacological evidence to support the claim that EEASL contains active antihyperlipidaemic agents.
Highlights
Hyperlipidaemia, a condition where abnormally high levels of lipids are found in the blood
Lipids are necessary for the normal functioning of a system. They cushion vital organs in the body and insulates the body. They move in the bloodstream as Raphael Dzinyela et al.: An in vivo Evaluation of Antihyperlipidaemic Activity of Ethanolic Extract of Amaranthus spinosus Leaves on Dexamethasone Induced Hyperlipidaemic Rats cholesterol and triglycerides; as cholesterol, they are involved in the structure and role of cells, and as triglycerides, they are preeminently regarded as the energy that is either utilized instantaneously or stored in fat cells [2]
We evaluated the effect of A. spinosus leaf extract on some biochemical parameters in the serum of the adult albino rats
Summary
Hyperlipidaemia, a condition where abnormally high levels of lipids are found in the blood. Lipids are necessary for the normal functioning of a system They cushion vital organs in the body and insulates the body. Excessive amounts of lipids in the blood bring about hyperlipidaemia This condition can be categorized into two, cantred on the main cause or origin, these are; familial or primary hyperlipidaemia, which is caused by genetic abnormalities, and acquired or secondary hyperlipidaemia, which is associated with other underlying disorders such as diabetes, chronic alcoholism, the use of drugs such as; oral contraceptives, diuretics, betablockers, etc. From the emergence of advancement, medicinal plants have aided humans in the quest to combat diseases. The availability of these plants and their efficiency have made them an essential tool in disease treatment despite the modern development of sophisticated pharmaceutical chemicals [3]
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