HYPOLIPIDEMIC ACTIVITY OF PIPER LONGUM IN EXPERIMENTAL HYPERLIPIDEMIA

In the present study, the hypolipidemic activity of Piper longum (Family: Piperaceae) fruit extract was studied in two experimental models of hyperlipidemia. In an acute model of hyperlipidemia, induced by injecting a single dose of triton WR-1339 (400 mg/kg, b.w.) intraperitonially in rats, administration of Piper longum extract at the dose of 500 mg/ kg, b.w. resulted in significant lipid lowering effect of total cholesterol (TC), phospholipids (PL), triglyceride (TG) and reactivation of post heparin lipolytic activity (PHLA). We observed significant decrease in TC, PL and TG levels by 32%, 19%, 39%, respectively, and increase in PHLA activity by 29% as compared to hyperlipidemic animals. In the chronic model, hyperlipidemia induced by cholesterol rich-high fat diet, we recorded significant decrease in TC, PL and TG levels by 27%, 15%, 34%, respectively, and increase in PHLA activity by 20 % as compared to hyperlipidemic animals. The treatment with fruit extract of Piper longum (500 mg/ kg b.w) simultaneously for 15 days also caused lowering of lipid levels in liver homogenate, following reactivation of plasma post heparin lipolytic activity in animals. This hypolipidemic activity of Piper longum was comparable to standard drug guggulipid in both models.