ABSTRACT
This study was aimed to investigate the effects of ethanol extracts of Indonesian marine sponges (Callyspongia sp.,Melophlus sarasinorum, and Xestospongia sp.) on the lipid profile of hyperlipidemic rats. The antihyperlipidemicstudy of these sponges is firstly reported in this study. Experimental hyperlipidemic rats were induced by daily intakeof propylthiouracil (1.8 mg/200 g b.wt and quail yolk (10 ml/kg) for the duration of 3 weeks. Hyperlipidemic ratgroups were administered orally with three doses (30, 60, and 120 mg/kg) of the ethanol extracts for 1-week onward.Blood sample was then collected via intracardiac puncture and serum was biochemically analyzed. Ethanol extractsof Callyspongia sp., M. sarasinorum, and Xestospongia sp. at doses of 60 and 120 mg/kg exhibited a significantreduction of cholesterols, triglycerides, and low-density lipoprotein. These doses also significantly increased the highdensity lipoprotein level. Levels of atherogenic indices (Atherogenic Index, Atherogenic Index Plasma, Castelli’s RiskIndex-I, and Castelli’s Risk Index-II) were also decreased by both doses with percentages protection ranging from70.6% to 81.6%. These results showed that ethanol extracts of Callyspongia sp., M. sarasinorum, and Xestospongiasp. exhibited a lipid-lowering activity in hyperlipidemic rats. Hence, these extracts could be used as sources of leadmolecules in the development of natural lipid-lowering agents from marine species