EVALUATION OF ANTIOXIDANT AND HYPOLIPIDEMIC ACTIVITY OF VEDIC GUARD, A POLYHERBAL FORMULATION

The present study was undertaken to evaluate antioxidant and hypolipidemic activity of Vedic guard, a polyherbal formulation comprising of Terminalia arjuna, Withania sominefera, Bacopa monnierii, Tinosporia cardifolia, Commiphora mukul and many other plant extracts, all of which are classifieds in Ayurveda as Rasaayanas which are reported to promote antioxidant and hypolipidemic activity. Antioxidant activity has been established in young adult rats against antitubercular drug induced hepatotoxicity but not in geriatric rats. Antioxidant activity was evaluated by hepatoprotectivity against carbon tetrachloride induced liver toxicity for 21 days in geriatric rats using Silymarin as reference standard, and by pyrogallol induced immunosupression for 28 days in young adult rats using levamisole as reference standard. Hypolipidemic activity was evaluated using triton WR1339 induced hyperlipidemic rats as experimental model in acute study. Oxidative damage was evidenced by occurrence of liver cirrhosis, elevation of AST, ALT, and ALP, total bilirubin in blood serum and increased LPO, reduced CAT and GSH in liver homogenate. Vedic guard treatment in geriatric rats with doses of 90mg/kg, 180mg/kg b. w., p. o. and standard silymarin significantly reversed all the changes that were due to CCl_4. Similarly pyrogallol induced immunosupression was evidenced by increased LPO and decreased GSH, SOD, CAT in liver homogenate. Vedic guard treatment in young adult rats at 180mg/kg b. w., p .o. and standard levamisole significantly altered the changes that were due to immunosupression. Hyperlipidemia was evidenced by increased serum total cholesterol, triglycerides, LDL, VLDL and decreased HDL. Vedic guard treatment with lower and higher doses and standard atorvastatin reversed all changes that were due to hyperlipidemia. The Vedic guard showed significant hypolipidemic and antioxidant activity.