Hypolipidemic Activity Of Cassia Tora Seeds In Hyperlipidemic Rats

The hypolipidemic activity of Cassia tora (Chakvat, Chakunda) (Family: Caesalpiniaceae) seeds extract has been studied in two hyperlipidemic models of rat. These are triton injected and cholesterol rich HFD fed model of hyperlipidemia. In triton WR-1339 induced hyperlipidemia, feeding with root extract (500 mg/ kg body wt/ day p.o. ) exerted lipid lowering effect as assessed by reversal of plasma levels of total cholesterol (TC), phospholipids (PL), triglyceride (TG) and reactivation of Post Heparin Lipolytic Activity (PHLA) of plasma. The other model was fed with cholesterol rich HFD and seeds extract of Cassia tora (500 mg/ kg body wt/ day p.o.) simultaneously for 30 days. This also caused lowering of lipid levels in plasma and liver homogenate and reactivation of plasma post heparin lipolytic activity, hepatic total lipoprotein lipase activity. The hypolipidemic activity of Cassia tora seeds was compared with a standard drug guggulipid (200 mg/ kg body wt/ day p.o.), a known lipid lowering drug in both models.

Hypolipidemic and antioxidant activity of Anthocephalus indicus (Kadam) root extract.

The present study was carried out to explore the anti-diabetic, anti-dyslipoproteinemic and anti-oxidant activities of Anthocephalus indicus root extract in alloxan-induced (150 mg/kg body wt.) diabetic rats. A marked increase in plasma levels of glucose and lipid peroxides accompanied with an elevation in the lipids and apoprotein levels of serum very low density lipoprotein (VLDL) and low density lipoprotein (LDL) following decrease in lipid and protein constituents of high density lipoprotein (HDL) were observed. The alterations in lipoprotein pattern was associated with inhibition of lipolytic and antioxidant enzymes. Oral administration of root extract (500 mg/kg body wt.) for 30 days in dyslipidemic animals resulted in significant decrease in plasma glucose, total cholesterol, phospholipids, triglyceride and lipid peroxides. The decrease of lipids and apoprotein levels of VLDL and LDL were followed by stimulation of plasma post-heparin lipolytic activity and lecithin cholesterol acyltransferase as well as hepatic superoxide dismutase and catalase activities. Lipid and apoprotein levels of HDL were also recovered partially on treatment with root extract.

Hypolipidemic activity of Hibiscus rosa sinensis root in rats.

The hypolipidemic activity of Hibiscus rosa sinensis (family Malvaceae) root extract was studied on triton and cholesterol-rich high fat diet (HFD) induced models of hyperlipidemia in rats. In triton WR-1339-induced hyperlipidemia, feeding with root extract (500 mg/kg body wt/day p.o.) exerted lipid-lowering effect, as assessed by reversal of plasma levels of total cholesterol (TC), phospholipids (PL) and triglycerides (TG) and reactivation of post-heparin lipolytic activity (PHLA) of plasma. The other model was fed with cholesterol-rich HFD and root extract (500 mg/kg body wt/ day p.o.) simultaneously for 30 days. This also caused lowering of lipid levels in plasma and liver homogenate and reactivation of plasma PHLA and hepatic total lipoprotein lipase activity. The hypolipidemic activity of Hibiscus rosa sinensis root was compared with a standard drug guggulipid (200 mg/kg body wt/day p.o.), a known lipid- lowering agent in both models. Histopathological findings in rat liver supported the protective role of H. rosa sinensis root extract in preventing cholesterol-rich HFD-induced hepatic steatosis.

Immunotoxicity of soluble and insoluble salts of cadmium instilled intratracheally.

Rats were intratracheally (i.t.) exposed to 36.5 or 27.5 microg of cadmium (Cd) as soluble cadmium chloride (CdCl2) and insoluble cadmium oxide (CdO) salts. The retention of metal in lungs, liver and kidney was assessed by atomic adsorption spectrophotometer. The animals were intraperitoneally (i.p.) primed with sheep red blood cells (SRBC) and assessed for the number of antibody forming cells in lung associated lymph nodes (LALN) and spleen. Both the compounds had similar retention of metal in lungs but CdO induced more pulmonary inflammatory and degradative changes than CdCl2. The larger influx of polymorphonuclear cells (PMNs) following CdO exposure appears to be due to the absence of protection afforded by Cd induced metallothionein cytoplasmic protein while the Cd metallothionein complex formed in the case of CdCl2 is more protective. However both forms of Cd had similar local immunosuppressive potential but CdO had more prolonged suppressive effect.