ANTIHYPERLIPIDEMIC ACTIVITY OF COMMIPHORA CAUDATA LEAVES IN ATHEROGENIC DIET INDUCED RATS
Commiphora Caudata (Burseraceae) is a potential medicinal plant used traditionally in the treatment of rheumatism, ulcers, diarrhea, hepatotoxicity and diabetes. The present investigation was aimed to study the effect of ethanolic extract of Commiphora Caudata leaves (ECCL) on serum lipid profile which is associated with many cardiovascular diseases like atherosclerosis .Hyperlipidemia was induced to rats by feeding atherogenic diet (AD) for a period of 21 days. The lipid profile was taken as the major marker of Hyperlipidemia and accordingly the changes in serum total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TG), low density lipoprotein (LDL-C), and high density lipoprotein (HDL-C) were measured (using enzymatic kits) after treatment with the ethanolic extract of Commiphora Caudata leaves (ECCL) and standard (atorvastatin). The effect of extracts on hepatic enzymes, serum aspartate amino transaminase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and alanine phosphatase (ALP) levels and lipid peroxidation were determined as a measure of hepatotoxicity. The oral administration of ECCL (100 and 200 mg/kg body weight) for 21 days significantly lowered the TC, TG and LDL-C levels while a marked increase in HDL levels were observed in a dose dependent manner. When compared to AD group, reduction in AST, ALT and ALP levels were also observed which indicates the hepatoprotective potential of the extracts. Based on the results obtained, it can be concluded that ECCL has significant antihyperlipidemic properties and can be used in the treatment of vascular disorders including atherosclerosis. The potential activity of the extracts can be attributed to the presence of antioxidant principles such as phenolic compounds which were reported from the plant