Preclinical Lipid Profile Studies of a Classical Ayurvedic Preparation, Siddha Makardhwaja (SMD), after Chronic Administration to Male Sprague-Dawley Rats

Siddha Makardhwaja (SMD) is a classical Ayurvedic formulation markedly used as a traditional medicine in the rural population for various purposes, such as a stimulant, tonic, and rejuvenator. The present study was conducted to evaluate the effect of conventionally prepared SMD on different lipid-profi le parameters in experimental animals, for providing scientifi c database for its logical use in clinical practice. Acute toxicity tests were conducted to determine the LD50 of the drug. To fi nd out the effect of chronic administration of SMD on serum lipid profi le, it was administered chronically to the male Sprague-Dawley rats at a dose of 40 mg/kg for 28 days. During the lipid profi le study, we found out the following: There is a statistically signifi cant (p = 5 0.042) decrease in the triglyceride content of the serum of the male rat [21.71% decrease]. There is a [21.65%] increase in the LDL level of the serum of the male rat; the increase, though not signifi - cant, was prominent (p = 5 0.122). There is a statistically signifi cant (p = 5 0.042) decrease in the VLDL level of the serum of the male rat [21.71% decrease]. There is a statistically signifi cant (p 5 0.016) decrease in the HDL level of the serum of the male rat [20.36% decrease]. There is a statistically signifi cant (p = 5 0.041) increase in the Cardiac Risk Ratio [(CRR) 5 Total cholesterol/HDL ratio] of the male rat [23.45% increase]. There is a statistically signifi cant (p 5 0.026) increase in the Castelli’s Risk Index II [(CRI II 5 LDL/HDL ratio] of the male rat [51.50% increase]. There is a statistically signifi cant (p = 5 0.041) increase in the Atherogenic Coeffi cient (AC) of the male rat [40.39% increase].