Abstract
Background: Hypercholesterolaemia is a major risk factor for systemic atherosclerosis and a well-known etiological factor for cardiovascular diseases and its complications which is a leading cause of mortality worldwide. In a recent study, the antihyperlipidemic activity of dried leaves extract of Alternanthera brasiliana has been evaluated. Hence, the present study was undertaken to investigate the anti-atherosclerotic potential of the methanolic extract of the leaves of Alternanthera brasiliana L. Kuntz (MEAB) in high fat diet induced hypercholesterolemic rat model.Methods: Thirty (30) wistar albino rats of either sex were randomly divided into five groups: first two groups received normal diet and high fat diet respectively and the remaining three groups received high fat diet supplemented with methanolic extract of Alternanthera brasiliana (MEAB) administered orally daily at two different doses: 200 mg/kg and 400 mg/kg and Atorvastatin 10 mg/kg/day orally as standard respectively. Serum total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TG), low density lipoprotein (LDL-C) and high density lipoprotein (HDL-C) was estimated after 12 weeks. Atherogenic index was calculated from the results of lipid profile. At the end, the aorta was removed for assessment of atherosclerotic plagues.Results: Our results showed that MEAB possessed significant cholesterol lowering potency as indicated by decrease in serum total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG) and low density lipoprotein (LDL-C) accompanied by an increase in serum high density lipoprotein (HDL-C) and reduces the atherosclerotic lesion of aorta (p <0.05).Conclusions: These results strongly suggests that MEAB can prevent the progress of atherosclerosis likely due to the effect of A. brasiliana on serum lipoproteins and its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. It could be a potential therapy for the prevention and treatment of atherosclerosis.
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