Role of Boswellia ovalifoliolata Bal. Henry extract on high fat diet induced hypercholesterolemia

Objective: To evaluate the Antihypercholesterolemic effect of Boswellia ovalifoliolata Bal. Henry extract by performing invivo studies and to checkout its effects by evaluating parameters like food consumption, weight gain, fecal fat excretion, serum and liver lipid &biochemical profiles. Even the study includes confirmation of activity by the histopathological studies. Methods: Animals were fed with cholesterol rich high fat diet. Food intake, Bodyweight and fecal fat excretion were measured. Serum and liver samples were analyzed for the estimation of lipid profiles and other biochemical parameters by using different kits. Histopathological study on liver, aorta, heart and adipose tissue was done to ensure the activity. Results: The animal group administered with methanolic extract of the plant has shown decreased levels of TC, LDL, VLDL, TG, HDL+VLDL, VLDL+LDL, LDL/TC, AI, SGOT, SGPT and elevated levels of HDL, HDL/TC in a dose dependent manner significantly (p<0.01 & p<0.05). The evaluation of liver tissue of animal groups treated with herbal extract and standard had shown increased levels of SOD, GSH and Catalase, whereas levels of SGOT, SGPT, Total glucose, HMG-CoA, lipase, amylase and percentage of monaldehyde were decreased when compared with high fat diet fed rats. Body weight and Food intake in treated groups were significantly lower than that in model control. Conclusion: It can be confered from the present studies that the Boswellia ovalifoliolata Bal. Henry extract have strong activity against hypercholesterolemia and obesity suggesting a potential benefit as antihypercholesterolemic agent. keywords: Boswellia ovalifoliolata Bal. Henry, High fat diet, Lipid profile, Histopathological studies Role of Boswellia ovalifoliolata Bal. Henry extract on high fat diet induced hypercholesterolemia D. Sathis Kumar1,2*, David Banji3, A. Harani4, Ch. Pavan Kumar1 and JN. Ravi Varma4 1Aditya Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Research, Surampalem, Andhra Pradesh, India-533437 2Jawaharlal Nehru Technical University, Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh, India 3Nalanda College of Pharmacy, Nalgonda, Andhra Pradesh, India-508001 4A.U. College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Andhra University, Visakhapatnam, India-530003 *Corresponding author. D. Sathis Kumar , Associate Professor, Aditya Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Research, SuramPalem, Andhra Pradesh. E-mail: [email protected] DOI: 10.5530/pj.2014.3.16 INTRODUCTION Hypercholesteremia, a known risk factor is considered to be one of the reasons for cardiovascular disease (CAD) and hence as a major cause of premature death globally in many developing and developed countries like India[1] and the most European countries cardiovascular disease contributes about 40% to all-cause mortality.[2] It is estimated by World Health Organization that approximately one third of all cardiovascular disease worldwide were caused by high cholesterol, and in the USA, 105 million people have cholesterol levels to a cardiovascular risk.[3] Hyperlipidemia is characterized by elevated serum TC, LDL, VLDL and decreased HDL levels. Hyperlipidemia associated lipid disorders are found to be responsible for CAD[4] of which hypercholesterolemia and hypertriglyceridemia are closely related to ischemic heart disease.[5,6] The main aim of treatment in patients with hyperlipidemia is to reduce the risk of developing ischemic heart disease or the occurrence of further cardiovascular or cerebrovascular disease.[7] The treatment of hyperlipidemia involves synthetic hypolipidemic drugs[8] whose consumption may lead to hyperuricemia, diarrhoea, nausea, myositis, gastric irritation, flushing, dry skin and abnormal liver function[9] which consumption the traditional systems which have immune potential against various diseases. Medicinal plants are used for various research purposes. More than thirteen thousand plants have been studied for various pharmacological properties. Herbal treatment for D. Sathis Kumar, et al.: Role of Boswellia ovalifoliolata Bal. Henry extract on high fat diet induced hypercholesterolemia Phcog J | May–June 2014 | Vol 6 | Issue 3 109 hypercholesterolemia has been associated with fewer side effects and is relatively cheap, locally available and they are effective in reducing the lipid levels in the system.[10] Hyperlipidemia is classified as primary or secondary based on complexities associated with disease of which anti-lipidemic drugs are used to treat primary disease, but the secondary type originating from diabetes, renal lipid nephrosis or hypothyroidism requires the treatment of the actual disease condition rather than simple hyperlipidemia based treatment.[11] Increased LDL formed from VLDL due to high fat consumption that adhere to walls of the blood vessels can block the normal blood flow resulting in the risk which can be prevented by improving the human diet which is highly recommended.[12] The lipid lowering action of the leaves of medicinal plants which play a major role in hypolipidemic activity is found to be mediated through the inhibition of the hepatic cholesterol biosynthesis and reduction of lipid absorption in the intestine. Boswellia ovalifoliolata Bal. Henry (Burseraceae) is distributed throughout hot spot of India. The plant is over exploited for its medicinal uses. The fresh leaf juice used to prevent throat ulcers. The stem is used in stomach ulcers and diabetes. Gum is used in dysentery, inflammations, joint pains, ulcers, arthritis and amoebic dysentery. [13] Decoction of the stem bark 10 – 25 mL per day reduces rheumatic pains. The gum obtained from the trunk which is highly medicated. Small lumps of fresh light yellow coloured liquid oozes out from the stem and hardens on exposure. Amyrins are the chief constituents of the gum together with resin acids and volatile acids. Shade dried gum is powdered dissolved in water and mixed with curd and given orally to cure amoebic dysentery.[14] Considering the traditional uses of the plant, the present study was focused on the effect of extract of plant on serum and liver lipid and other biochemical level in high fat diet fed sprague-dawley rats. MATERIALS AND METHODS