ANTIOXIDANT AND LIPID LOWERING EFFECTS OF ELAEOCARPUS GANITRUS IN CHOLESTEROL FED RABBITS

Elaeocarpus ganitrus Roxb. is reported to exhibit multifarious pharmacological activities. However no scientific study has been conducted to evaluate antiatherosclerotic /lipid lowering activity of E. ganitrus Roxb. The present study was designed to investigate the antihyperlipidaemic and antioxidant activity of 70% ethanolic extract of E. ganitrus seed (EGEE) in cholesterol fed hyperlipidaemic rabbits. The EGEE was administered at a dose level of 250 and 500 mg/kg/day (p.o.) for 60 days to hyperlipidaemic rabbits. Lipid profile in serum and antioxidant parameters in tissues (Liver, Heart and Aorta) were determined. The statistical analysis was carried out using one way ANOVA followed by Tukey’s multiple comparison tests. EGEE showed a decrease in the levels of serum total cholesterol, triglycerides, phospholipids, LDL, VLDL (P ≤ 0.01, ≤ 0.001) in a dose dependant manner in treated animals.  HDL ratio improved profoundly as well as marked decline was noticed in atherogenic index after administration with EGEE. A considerable decrease in lipid per oxidation and a significant elevation in Glutathione, Catalase and SOD levels (P ≤ 0.01, ≤ 0.001) were observed in EGEE treated rabbits. The overall experimental results suggests that the biologically active phytoconstituents such as phytosterols, fats, alkaloids, flavonoids, carbohydrates, proteins and tannins present in the EGEE may be responsible for the significant hypolipidaemic as well as antioxidant activity, signifying the potential protective role in coronary heart disease.