Antihyperlipidemic effect of the methanolic extract from Lagenaria siceraria Stand. fruit in hyperlipidemic rats

Ethnopharmacological relevance: Lagenaria siceraria Stand. (Cucurbitaceae) fruits have been used, traditionally, in the treatment of hyperlipidemia and atherosclerotic impasse and considered as cardioprotective and cardiotonic drug. Aim of the study: The present work was undertaken to investigate the effects of methanolic extract from Lagenaria siceraria in experimentally induced hyperlipidemia in rats. Materials and methods: Methanolic extract of Lagenaria siceraria fruits (LSFE) (100, 200 and 300 mg/kg; p.o.) was administered to the high fat-diet-induced hyperlipidemic rats for 30 days to evaluate its anti-hyperlipidemic activity. Atorvastatin (10 mg/kg; p.o.) was used as a standard drug. Results: At the 30th day, most significant reduction in lipid levels in the LSFE treated rats as compared to the rats fed with high-fat diet at the 0th day were: total cholesterol 290.14 +/- 18.42 mg/dl vs. 228.58 +/- 16.38 mg/dl, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol 195.14 +/- 8.86 mg/dl vs. 120.57 +/- 8.11 mg/dl, triglyceride 232.41 +/- 15.22 mg/dl vs. 181.79 +/- 15.68 mg/dl, very low-density lipoprotein cholesterol 46.48 +/- 3.04 mg/dl vs. 36.35 +/- 3.13 mg/dl (P<0.0001). Conversely, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels were significantly (P<0.0001) increased from 48.52 +/- 6.52 to 71.66 +/- 5.14 mg/dl. The increase in weight in rats administered with LSFE was less when compared to rats fed with high-fat diet. Moreover, LSFE also exhibited significant increase in excretion of bile acids. Conclusion: The results demonstrate that the LSFE has a definite antihyperlipidemic potential. There is also a valid scientific basis for consuming it in the treatment of coronary artery diseases in India. (C) 2009 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.