Biochemical and pharmacological properties of a polyherbal antilipemic tea in chemically induced hyperlipidemia

Abstract

The incidence of hyperlipidemia is increasing worldwide. Compared to individual herbs, polyherbal formulations have been hyped to possess increased therapeutic effectiveness due to the synergistic actions of the constituent herbs. However, the proliferation of putative herbal remedies is a cause for concern because of safety and efficacy issues. Thus, this study investigated the performance of a polyherbal tea (PHT) in Triton X-1339-induced lipid and other biochemical disorders in rats to gain insight into its safety and efficacy. PHT was screened for phytochemical, mineral, and proximate contents. Hyperlipidemia was induced in male Wistar rats by administering 200 mg/kg of Triton X-1339 to them intraperitoneally. Animals then received an infusion of PHT for two weeks. Lipid profile, organ impairment, and hematological assessments were performed on tissues excised from the experimental animals. The phytochemical screening detected polyphenols and tannins in PHT. The estimated amounts of phenols and flavonoids in PHT were 150.60 ± 1.40 mg Gallic acid equivalent and 3961.11 ± 30.06 mg Quercetin equivalent, respectively. Triton injection caused dyslipidemia, and cardiohepatorenal redox imbalance and biochemical dysfunction. The Triton-induced dyslipidemia, redox imbalance, and alterations to biochemical indices of organ function were counteracted by PHT. In addition, Triton administration showed a deleterious effect on the hematological profile of dyslipidemic rats which was corrected following their treatment with PHT. The efficacy of PHT compared well with that of Rosuvastatin. The results obtained demonstrated the apparent safety and therapeutic efficacy of PHT in hyperlipidemia and related biochemical dysfunctions.