Role of an Ethanolic Extract of Crotalaria juncea L. on High-Fat Diet-Induced Hypercholesterolemia.

Dinakaran Sathis Kumar

doi:10.3797/scipharm.1308-08

Abstract

ObjectiveTo evaluate the antihypercholesterolemic effects of 50 mg/kg BW and 100 mg/kg BW per day of an ethanolic extract of Crotalaria juncea Linn (whole plant) by performing in vivo studies.MethodsThe effects of oral administration of 50 mg/kg BW and 100 mg/kg BW per day of an ethanolic extract of Crotalaria juncea Linn (whole plant) in rats fed with a high-fat diet were investigated by evaluating parameters like food consumption, weight gain, fecal fat excretion, serum and liver lipids, and biochemical profiles as well as by histopathological studies. The results were compared to animals fed with the standard diet and animals fed with a high-fat diet and atorvastatin (10 mg/kg BW).ResultsThe animal group administered with the ethanolic extract for 35 days showed decreased levels of TC, LDL, VLDL, TG, HDL+VLDL, VLDL+LDL, LDL/TC, AI, SGOT, SGPT, and elevated levels of HDL, HDL/TC, significantly (p<0.01 & p<0.05) in a dose-dependent manner. The evaluation of liver tissues of the animal groups treated with the herbal extract and standard had shown increased levels of SOD, GSH, and catalase, whereas levels of SGOT, SGPT, total glucose, HMG-CoA, lipase, amylase, and the percentage of malon-dialdehyde were decreased when compared with the high-fat diet-fed rats. Body weight and food intake in the treated groups were significantly lower than that in the model control.ConclusionThe present study showed that an ethanolic extract of Crotalaria juncea L. influences several blood lipid and metabolic parameters in rats, suggesting a potential benefit as an antihypercholesterolemic agent.

Highlights

Hypercholesteremia, a known risk factor, is considered to be one of the reasons for cardiovascular disease (CAD) and is a major cause of premature death globally in many developing and developed countries like India [1] and most European countries, where cardiovascular disease contributes to about 40% of all-cause mortality [2]
The effects of oral administration of 50 mg/kg body weight (BW) and 100 mg/kg BW per day of an ethanolic extract of Crotalaria juncea Linn in rats fed with a high-fat diet were investigated by evaluating parameters like food consumption, weight gain, fecal fat excretion, serum and liver lipids, and biochemical profiles as well as by histopathological studies
The results were compared to animals fed with the standard diet and animals fed with a high-fat diet and atorvastatin (10 mg/kg BW)

Summary

Introduction

Hypercholesteremia, a known risk factor, is considered to be one of the reasons for cardiovascular disease (CAD) and is a major cause of premature death globally in many developing and developed countries like India [1] and most European countries, where cardiovascular disease contributes to about 40% of all-cause mortality [2]. It is estimated by the World Health Organization that approximately one-third of all cardiovascular disease worldwide is caused by high cholesterol [3]. Considering the traditional uses of the plant, the present study was focused on the effects of an extract of the whole plant on serum and liver lipids and other biochemical markers in high-fat diet-fed Sprague Dawley rats

Results and Discussion

Conclusion

Materials and Methods