Assessment of antihyperlipidemic properties of aqueous extract of cassia fistula leaves

ABSTRACT

To study antihyperlipidemic properties of aqueous extract of Cassia fistula leaves in mice. Experimental study. This study was conducted at Pharmacology Laboratory of Islamic International Medical College, Rawalpindi, and National Institute of Health, Islamabad from February to April 2011. 40 male Balb/c mice were used which were randomly divided into 4 groups i.e. Group A, B, C and D, each group containing 10 mice. Duration of study was 8 weeks after acclimatization [1 week]. Group A served as control group [received standard mice diet], Group B as disease control [received 2% cholesterol diet] and Group C and D as Cassia fistula groups [received 2% cholesterol diet + aqueous extract of Cassia fistula leaves 250 and 500 mg/kg respectively]. At the end of 8 weeks, blood samples of all the mice were analyzed. In disease Group B, there was significant rise in the levels of serum total cholesterol, triglycerides and LDL-C and decline in HDL-C. In Group C and D [Cassia fistula groups], there was much less rise in cholesterol, triglycerides and LDL-C especially in Group D. Also, there was significant increase in HDL-C level in group D. The results demonstrate that administration of aqueous extract of Cassia fistula leaves, along with cholesterol diet, not only prevented the rise in serum cholesterol, triglycerides and LDL-C levels but also increased the HDL-C level, demonstrating antihyperlipidemic properties of the extract