Hypolipidemic Effect of Aqueous Fruit Extract of Doum Palm (Hyphaene Thebaica) in Wistar Rat

Abstract

Atherosclerotic cardiovascular diseases are characterized by strokes and coronary artery disease. Hyperlipidemia and free radicals generation in the body are among the main risk factors for cardiovascular diseases. Statin drugs such as lovastatin and atorvastatin are mostly prescribed for the treatment of hyperlipidemia. However, many patients show intolerance toward these drugs and develops mild symptoms, which include myalgia and cramps, to the most severe Rhabdomyolysis. In this study, we have qualitatively determined the phytochemicals in Doum (Hyphaene thebaica) fruit aqueous extract and the antioxidant activity using the DPPH assay. Furthermore, we have investigated the hypolipidemic potential of the extract in Wistar rats. Freshly prepared aqueous extract of the Doum fruit with concentration 200 - 400 mg/kg and 20mg/kg of atorvastatin were orally administered to the Wistar rats fed with high - fat diet for two weeks and were sacrificed for hyperlipidemic analysis. The qualitative determination of the phytochemicals indicates the presence of steroids, saponin, tannins, phlobatannins, terpenoids, alkaloid, glycoside, and flavonoids. The fruit extract shows antioxidant activity by scavenging the DPPH radicals with IC50 of 128 µm/mL. Both the fruit extract and atorvastatin decreased serum total glyceride cholesterol, total cholesterol, LDL, and increased HDL level significantly (P < 0.05). This result revealed the anti-hyperlipidemic, and antioxidant potential of Doum fruit. Therefore, it could be useful in managing hyperlipidemia, thereby reducing the risk factor of cardiovascular diseases in the end.