Effect of Quisqualis indica extract on cholesterol diet induced hyperlipidemia in rats

 

Sahu Jyoti1, Patel Pushpendra Kumar2, Chanchal Deep Kaur1*

1Shri Rawatpura Sarkar Institute of Pharmacy, Kumhari (Durg), Chhattisgarh, India.

2Siddhi Vinayak Institute of Technology and Science, Bilaspur, India.

 

 

ABSTRACT:

Treatment of hyperlipidemia is important for prevention of many disease especially coronary heart diseases. It has been proven that 20% of all strokes and over 50% of all heart attacks can be linked to high fatty substances (cholesterol) and it can be reduced by increased dietary intake of antioxidants which is a vast source of plant extracts. In the present study the hypolipidemic activity of methanolic extracts of aerial parts of Quisqualis indica (QI) including flowers on cholesterol diet (PS) induced hyperlipidemia in rats had been evaluated.  Hyperlipidemia was induced by cholesterol diet (dry coconut, milk powder etc). The hypolipidemic activity was analyzed by reading the blood serum level in UV at 505 nm after treated with reagent present in auto span diagnostic kit. Dose of Methanolic extracts of QI had been prepared by using distilled water i.e. 100 mg/kg p.o and 200 mg/kg p.o.  Methanolic extracts of QI significantly reduce the harmful lipid layer in blood serum at varying concentration which shows that the plant carries the hypolipidemic properties which was may be due to the inhibition of lipid peroxidation as the plants contain some active ingredients acting as antioxidants. Result shows that the plants extracts was more effective at 200 mg/kg whereas Atorvastatin (10mg/kg) drug is used as standard drug.

 

KEYWORDS: Hypolipidemic, Hypocholesterolemic, Cholesterol diet, Hyperlipidemia, Quisqualis indica, Coronary heart disease.

 

INTRODUCTION:

Hyperlipidemia refers to elevated levels of lipids and cholesterol in the blood, and is also identified as dyslipidemia, to describe the manifestations of different disorders of lipoprotein metabolism [1] and a major risk factor in the initiation and progression of atherosclerotic lesions, conditions such as coronary heart disease, ischemic cerebrovascular disease and peripheral vascular disease. This leads to high mortality and morbidity rate in developed countries. Hyperlipidemia also has an indirect role by stimulating the production of oxygen free radicals from polymorphonuclear leukocytes and monocytes .It is considered as one of the five leading causes of the death in the world   [2, 3]. Diet modification is the cornerstone of therapy for mild to moderate hyperlipidemia. Modifying the diet is also recommended along with pharmacologic therapy in people at higher risk of CAD [4].

 

The World Health Organization estimates that almost 20% of all strokes and over 50% of all heart attacks can be linked to high fatty substances (cholesterol). A lot of people don't take the risks of high cholesterol very seriously. After all, one out of six people have high cholesterol [5]. In 21st century hyperlipidemia causing due to obesity increase their risk of developing Coronary heart disease (CHD) by 45 % to 60% [6].

 

 

Cell membranes are made of unsaturated lipids and these unsaturated lipid molecules of cell membranes are particularly susceptible to free radicals. Oxidative damage can direct to a breakdown or even hardening of lipids, which composition of all cell walls. Breakdown or hardening is due to lipid peroxidation leads to death of cell or it becomes unfeasible for the cell to properly get its nutrients or get signals to achieve another. Epidemiological studies suggest that increased dietary intake of antioxidants reduces the risk of coronary artery disease [7, 8]. Many herbal medicinal products reported to have potential to reduce lipid and cholesterol in body and encourage safety profile [9-11]. Quisqualis indica Linn is an evergreen plant growing all over the countries as ornamental plants showing various pharmacological activities such as anti-inflammatory activity, immunomodulatory activity, anti-staphylococcal activity, anthelmintic activity, antioxidants etc. due to its presence of various active constituents all over the parts of plants which had been reported [12-17]. In the present study, the methanolic extracts of aerial parts of Quisqualis indica (QI) including flowers was investigated for hypolipidemic activity on cholesterol diet induced hyperlipidemia in rats.

 

MATERIALS AND METHOD:

Plant Material

The mature aerial parts of Quisqualis indica were collected in the morning from Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh, India, in the month of January 2012. Identification and authentication of herb by Dr. Zia ul Hassan, Professor of Botany, Safia College of Science, Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh, India (Voucher. No 323/Bot/Safia/2010).The collected parts were washed with a normal tap water so that the sticked dirt particle had been washed and then dried in a shed area, after dried it had been crushed into small pieces for extraction process. About 80 gm of dry powder was taken in a soxhlet apparatus and extracted with 400 ml methanol for about 8 days at 10-15 degree centigrade. The marc left was dried under room temperature to get a dry mass i.e. free of solvent. The final obtained extract was weighed and stored in air tight glass container at cool place [18].

 

Phytochemical Analysis

Preliminary Phytochemical studies of methanolic extract of Quisqualis indica was performed for major classes of constituents like alkaloids, carbohydrates, protein and amino acid, Saponins, glycosides, steroids, tannins, flavonoid and phenolic compounds according to published standard methods [19]. The dose limits were selected on the basis of previously performed oral acute toxicity studies in albino mice, in accordance with the OECD (423) guidelines.

 

Animals and Animal Diet

Albino wistar rats (100-200 gm) of either sex had been taken which were obtained from Sapience Bio Analytical Research laboratory, Bhopal (M.P.) animal house (Reg. No. 1413/A/11 CPCSEA) and housed 6 animals per cage made up of polypropylene, habituated at laboratory condition for 2 days prior to experiment procedure which were maintained at environment [(250 C ± 2) temperature, 30-50 % humidity and 12 hr light and dark condition alternately)]. The animals were fed with standard pellet diet and water ad libitum at first 12 hours and for next 12 hours animals with cholesterol diet. The animals were divided into 3 groups containing 6 animals in each group i.e. Control Group, cholesterol diet induced group and cholesterol diet + Test Methanolic extract (200 mg/kg p.o.) group. After 28 days rats were fasted for 10-12 hours and then they were anaesthetized with mild chloroform, blood sample was collected by retro orbital sinus puncture. Collected blood was poured slightly into tubes marked and immediately centrifuged for 2000 rpm for 15 minutes to obtain clear serum. The amount of blood parameters was calculated in mg/dl.

 

Biochemical Analysis

The blood serum were assayed for total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TG), high-density lipoprotein (HDL), low-density lipoprotein (LDL), very low-density lipoprotein (VLDL) using Span diagnostic kit having standard kit formula. The amount of LDL-Cholesterol and VLDL-Cholesterol were calculated using friedewald's equation. LDL-Cholesterol =Total Cholesterol - Triglycerides/5- HDL -Cholesterol and VLDL-Cholesterol = Triglycerides/5 [20].

 

Statistical Analysis

The results were expressed as mean ± S.E (Standard Error). Statistical analysis was carried out by using ANOVA followed by Tukey's multiple comparison tests using Graph pad PRISM software version 5.04 (2010).P values < 0.05 were considered as statistically significant.

 

RESULTS:

The present investigation showed that the cholesterol diet induced hyperlipidemia in rats by raising the lipid level i.e. LDL, VLDL and TC and TG and lowering of HDL shown in table I. The results were discussed mainly under lipid layer as in hyperlipidemia lipid level were increased. Results shows that the cholesterol diet also raises total cholesterol 81.42% and triglyceride 74.55 % compare to control group. When cholesterol diet along with extracts had given it was noted the total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TG), low-density lipoprotein (LDL) and very low-density lipoprotein (VLDL) lowering and increases the high-density lipoprotein (HDL) level up to certain extent which was may be due to inhibition of lipid peroxidation. By the results it had been concluded that the extracts is acting as antihyperlipidemic drugs at the dose level of 100 mg/kg and 200 mg/kg by lowering the harmful effects of lipid level in which 200 mg/kg was more effective.

 

 

Table 1: Effect of Methanolic extract of Quisqualis indica on TC, TG, HDL, LDL and VLDL in blood Serum of Control and Experimental Rats

GROUP

TC

TG

HDL

LDL

VLDL

Control

52.15±0.39

41.37±1.37

21.65±0.44

24.66±1.03

8.275±0.27

Cholesterol diet

74.56±0.74***

64.02±0.71***

12.51±0.56***

48.19±0.85***

12.80±0.14***

Atorvastatin

59.28±0.59***

49.80±1.04***

17.50±0.21***

31.82±0.33***

9.96±0.21***

Methanolic ext.(200 mg/kg)

61.39±1.44***

52.35±0.68***

16.81±0.40***

34.11±1.53***

10.47±0.14***

Methanolic ext.(100 mg/kg)

64.14±0.86***

57.06±0.78**

15.72±0.40**

37.00±0.71***

11.41±0.18**

Values are in mean ± SE; n- number of animals in each group = 6;

***p < 0.001, **p < 0.01, *p < 0.05 compared with control groups using ANOVA software followed by Tukey's multiple comparison tests.

Where, TC- Total cholesterol, TG- Triglyceride, HDL- High density lipoprotein, LDL- Low density lipoprotein and VLDL- Very low density lipoprotein.

 

 

DISCUSSION:

The present results shows that the extracts of Quisqualis indica linn produce a significant reduction in harmful lipids and raised the HDL level which is good cholesterol and thus it act as hypolipidemic and hypocholesterolemic. It is well known that HDL-Cholesterol levels have a protective role in Coronary artery disease [21]. The increased level of HDL- cholesterol and decreased cholesterol level along with its LDL and VLDL fraction which is evident from the results could be due to inhibition of lipid peroxidation so that it cannot breakdown to form plaque and block the artery, thus atherosclerosis doesn't exists. By decreasing the harmful lipid levels and cholesterol in the body under the influence of plant Quisqualis indica linn strongly strengthen the hypolipidemic activity of the plant at dose dependent otherwise it may produce toxic effects. Over dosage of the herb will cause hiccups, dizziness, vertigo and vomiting. Taking this herb with hot tea can also cause hiccups [22].

Highly fatty substance raises your risk for heart disease, heart attack, and stroke. When there is too much cholesterol circulating in the blood, it can create sticky deposits (called plaque) along the artery walls. Plaque can eventually narrow or block the flow of blood to the brain, heart, and other organs. And blood cells that get caught on the plaque form clots, which can break loose and completely block blood flow through an artery, causing heart attack or stroke [23].

 

Cell membranes are made of unsaturated lipids and these unsaturated lipid molecules of cell membranes are particularly susceptible to free radicals [24]. Oxidative damage can direct to a breakdown or even hardening of lipids is due to lipid peroxidation leads to death of cell or it becomes unfeasible for the cell to properly get its nutrients or get signals to achieve another [25]. Antioxidants cause protective effect by neutralizing free radicals, toxic byproducts of natural cell metabolism which inhibit the lipid peroxidation or lipolysis [26].

 

The active ingredients present in extracts help in recovering the disorderness in lipid metabolism noted in hyperlipidemic state which was may be due to inhibition of lipid peroxidation. Thus, our present study showed that the administration of Methanolic extracts at the dose 100 and 200 mg/kg of Quisqualis indica was effective to manage hyperlipidemia in which 200 mg/kg was more effective dose.

 

CONCLUSION:

The present study established that the cholesterol diet raise the lipid and cholesterol level with reducing the HDL level which cause hyperlipidemia as well as hypercholesterolemia existing heart disease such as heart attack, heart stroke etc in future. Epidemiological studies suggest that increased dietary intake of antioxidants reduces the risk of coronary artery disease and the plant extracts showing positive indication that it contains flavonoids and phenolic compounds helpful in CVD. The present investigation shows that the methanolic extracts of aerial parts of QI had markedly reduced the raised lipid level LDL, VLDL and cholesterol due to cholesterol diet induced, thus it acts as hypolipidemic at dose dependent manner.

 

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT:

Authors are thankful to members of SBRL Lab and SRIP, Kumhari for their support in the completion of this work. 

 

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Received on 12.11.2013

Modified on 02.12.2013

Accepted on 08.12.2013

© A&V Publication all right reserved

Research J. Pharmacology and Pharmacodynamics. 5(6): November –December 2013, 317-320