ANTI-HYPERLIPIDEMIC AND ANTIOXIDANT CAPACITY OF ACTIVE EXTRACTS OF FRAGARIA NUBICOLA IN HIGH FAT DIET FED HYPERLIPIDEMIC RATS

Hyperlipidemia is a major risk factor for CHD, atherosclerosis and diabetes. Present study has been conducted to evaluate the antioxidant and anti hyperlipidemic activity of Fragaria nubicola. All in-vitro antioxidant activities were concentration dependent, which were compared with standard antioxidants BHT and Vitamin C. At concentration of 700 µg/ml the DPPH radical scavenging activity of methanol extract was more than that of aqueous and ethyl actetate extracts. The highest phenolic content was observed in methanolic extract followed by aqueous and ethyl acetate. Superoxide and hydroxyl radical scavenging activity of extracts increased in dose dependent manner with highest in methanolic extract. To evaluate hyperlipidemic activity, 35 rats weighing 80-100gm were divided into 7 groups with five in each group and were fed with high fat diet for one month. Group I contained normal receiving water only, group II Hyper- lipidemic receiving high fat diet, group III Atorvastatin (10 mg/kg), group IV and group V receiving methanolic extract of 50 and 100 mg/kg, group VI and VII receiving aqueous extract of 50 and 100 mg/kg body weight. There was a significant reduction in total cholesterol, triglyceride, LDL and increase in HDL levels in all the groups with extracts. The lipid lowering capacity of methanol extracts was more than that of aqueous extracts. The methanolic extract (100 mg/kg) showed a highly significant reduction in lipids along with the drug. The findings of present study suggest that the methanolic extract possess a good amount of antioxidant and anti hyperlipidemic activity and could have great importance as a therapeutic agent in future.