Hypolipidemic Activity of Lepidium Sativum Linn. Seed in Rats

Abstract

The hypolipidemic activity of Lepidium sativum (family: Brassicaceae) seed sapogenin and flavonoid extract (LSTS and LSTF) was studied against Triton x-100 and high cholesterol diet (HCD) induced hyperlipidemia on rats. The parameters assessed were serum total protein, total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDLc), low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDLc), very low density lipoprotein cholesterol (VLDLc), lipoprotein ratio (LDLc/HDLc), risk ratio (TC/HDL), Atherogenic Index (AI) and histopathology of liver. Oral administration of LSTS and LSTF (150, 300 mg/kg body wt./day) in Triton x- 100 induced hyperlipidemia exerted significant lipid lowering (P<0.001) effect along with decrease in lipoprotein ration, risk ratio and AI (P<0.05-0.001). LSTF when administered along with HCD feeding simultaneously for 28 days caused significant (P<0.001) lowering of serum lipid parameters, lipoprotein ration, risk ratio and AI at high dose only. Effect of LSTS was non-significant on HCD induced hyperlipidemia. Histopathological findings of rat liver supported the protective role of LSTF in preventing Triton x-100 and HCD induced hepatic steatosis. Flavonoid and sapogenin extract in both the doses showed protection against all parameters of Triton x-100 induced hyperlipidemia where as only flavonoid extract showed good effect against HCD induced hyperlipidemia. The result strongly suggests hypolipidemic activity of L. sativum flavonoids. Keyword: Flavonoid, High cholesterol diet, Hypolipidemic, Lepidium sativum Linn., Triton x-100, Sapogenin, Seeds