Antihyperlipidaemic activity of swertiamarin, a secoiridoid glycoside in poloxamer-407-induced hyperlipidaemic rats.

Hitesh Vaidya, Mandapati Rajani, Vasudevan Sudarsanam, Harish Padh, Ramesh Goyal

Index: J. Nat. Med. 63(4) , 437-42, (2009)

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Abstract

We have investigated antihyperlipidaemic effect of swertiamarin (50 mg/kg, oral once) isolated from the perennial herb Enicostemma littorale Blume in poloxamer 407 (P-407)-induced hyperlipidaemic rats. Rats were made hyperlipidaemic by intraperitoneal administration of P-407 (400 mg/kg). Serum lipid levels such as total cholesterol, triglycerides and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol increased significantly (P < 0.001) compared with normal control rats. All these changes were significantly prevented in the rats treated with swertiamarin. Serum high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol was found to be reduced in the P-407 control rats. However, administration of swertiamarin significantly (P < 0.01) increased HDL levels and it showed a significant lipid-lowering effect, as well as a high antiatherogenic potential. Overall swertiamarin is an effective lipid-lowering lead compound and can be useful for preventing atherosclerosis.