LIPID LOWERING ACTIVITY OF Aegle marmelos AND Ocimum basilicum EXTRACT IN HYPERLIPIDEMIA INDUCED RATS

Venkataramanan S1*, Kavitha.Kannan2,Purushothaman Ayyakkannu3,Ashwini Kalaiselvan1
Page No. 77-86

Hyperlipidemia causes the development of atherosclerosis and is a risk factor for cardiovascular diseases and myocardial infarction, which is common cause of mortality and morbidity.. The aim of this study is to compare the effect of Aegle marmelos (A.marmelos) and Ocimum basilicum (O.basilicum) aqueous extract on hyperlipidemia induced albino rats. This investigation had been performed on 36 male Wistar albino rats which were arbitrarily classified into 6 groups (n=6). Group I: negative control group was given basal diet. Group II: positive control was fed with 2% high fat diet (HFD). Group III: the rats were treated with 250 mg/kg A.marmelos aqueous extract. Group IV: the rats were treated with 800 mg/kg O.basilicum. Group V: the rats were administrated with combination of 250 mg/kg A.marmelos and 800 mg/kg O.basilicum. Group VI: the rats in this group were treated with standard drug atorvastatin. All the groups excluding negative control were induced hyperlipidemia by feeding them 2% HFD throughout the experiment and received the treatment for 2 weeks. The blood samples were obtained through cardiac puncture to analyze serum total cholesterol, triglycerides, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) level by using Enzymatic Colorimetric Test Kits. The results were statistically analyzed by using one-way ANOVA followed by Dunnet’s Multiple Comparison Test. High fat feeding caused significant (p<0.05) increases in serum levels of total cholesterol, triglycerides and LDL-C and decreases HDL-C as compared with the rats fed basal diet. Administration of the individual aqueous extract of A.marmelos and O.basilicum to HFD fed rats significantly (p<0.05) prevented the increases in serum total cholesterol, triglycerides and LDL-C and decrease of HDL-C. Besides, the results were more significant in rats treated with combination extract of A.marmelos and O.basilicum. The standard drug atorvastatin showed slightly better effect than the treatment of the both extracts. In conclusion, the combination treatment aqueous extraction of A.marmelos and O.basilicum produces more significant effect than individual treatment of the extracts. Aqueous extract of A.marmelos and O.basilicum can serve as an alternative source in the management of hyperlipidemia causing diseases.  
Key words: Hyperlipidemia, Cholesterol, Aegle Marmelos, Myocardial infarction, Ocimum basilicum