The influence of Alpinia calcarata extract on the serum lipid and leptin levels of rats with hyperlipidemia induced by high-fat diet

ABSTRACT

Objective: To study the effect of ethanolic extract from Alpinia calcarata rhizomes on the serum lipid and leptin levels of rats with hyperlipidemia induced by high-fat diet. Methods: Male wistar rats were divided into six groups normal, high-fat diet control (HFD) and ethanolic extract of Alpinia calcarata rhizomes (ACRE) (100, 200 and 300 mg/kg; p.o.) was administered to the high fat-diet-induced hyperlipidemic rats for 30 days to evaluate its antihyperlipidemic activity. Atorvastatin (10 mg/kg; p.o.) was used as a standard drug. Results: The results demonstrated that in HFD-induced hyperlipidemic rat, ACRE reduced rat weight gain, triglyceride (TG), total cholesterol levels (TC), low-density lipoprotein (LDL), very low-density lipoprotein (VLDL), total protein (TP) and leptin level (pg/mL). Conclusions: These encouraging findings suggest that ACRE has excellent pharmacological potential to prevent hyperlipidemia.