ABSTRACT
High fat diet caused significant (8-fold) increase in serum total cholesterol in rabbits. Administration of C. decidua fruit extract (50% ethanolic) at the dose of 500 mg/kg body weight significantly reduced serum total cholesterol (61%), LDL cholesterol (71%), triglycerides (32%) and phospholipids (25%). Similarly C. decidua shoot extract lowered serum total cholesterol (48%), LDL cholesterol (57%), triglycerides (38%) and phospholipids (36%).The cholesterol content of aorta was decreased by 44 and 28% in fruit and shoot extract treatment respectively. The HDL to total cholesterol ratio and atherogenic index was significantly decreased in plant extract treated groups suggesting antiatherosclerotic nature of these plant extract. These results reveal the hypolipidaemic potential of C. decidua fruit and shoot.
Subject(s)
Animals , Hypolipidemic Agents/pharmacology , Aorta/metabolism , Atherosclerosis/drug therapy , Body Weight , Capparis/metabolism , Cholesterol/metabolism , Cholesterol, HDL/metabolism , Cholesterol, LDL/metabolism , Ethanol , Fruit , Male , Organ Size , Phospholipids/metabolism , Plant Extracts/pharmacology , Plant Roots , Rabbits , Triglycerides/metabolismABSTRACT
<p><b>AIM</b>To study the contraceptive effect of the crude extracts of Curcuma longa in male albino rats.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Rats were fed orally with Curcuma longa aqueous and 70% alcoholic extract for 60 days (500 mg x kg(-1) x day(-1)).</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>A reduction in sperm motility and density was observed in both the treated groups.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Curcuma longa may have affected the androgen synthesis either by inhibiting the Leydig cell function or the hypothalamus pituitary axis and as a result, spermatogenesis is arrested.</p>