EVALUATION OF COMBINED EFFECT ON ANTIHYPERLIPIDAEMIC ACTIVITY OF MADHUCA LONGIFOLIA AND BUTEA MONOSPERMA L. IN TRITON WR-1339 INDUCED HYPERLIPIDAEMIC RATS

The use of herbal remedies in India has a long history for various medical conditions. High serum total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein (LDL) concentrations, and a decline in high-density lipoprotein are the main risk factors for coronary heart disease. It has been observed that Butea monosperma L. flower extract and Madhuca longifolia bark extract have been used traditionally to treat hyperglycaemia and related hyperlipidaemia. The evolution of atherosclerotic plaques and coronary artery disease are known to be accelerated by hyperlipidaemia. In the current study, hyperlipidaemic rats were used as a model to examine the potential antihyperlipidemic effects of a hydroalcoholic extract of Butea monosperma L. flowers (HA-BM) and Madhuca longifolia bark (HA-ML). Triton WR 1339 (400 mg/kg) was administered intraperitoneally (i.p.) once to rats to cause hyperlipidaemia, which resulted in rats with persistently high serum levels of triglycerides and cholesterol. The combined dose of HA-BM (200, 400 and 600 mg/kg/day) and HA-ML (250, 500 and 750 mg/kg/day) at a ratio of 1:1 was given to normal and hyperlipidaemic rats. Serum and liver tissue were analysed for lipid profile, and the activity was compared to the cholesterol-lowering drug, atorvastatin (10 mg/kg). From the above study, it could be concluded that a combined dose of an extract of Butea monosperma L. and Madhuca longifolia not only resulted in a significant reduction in cholesterol, triglyceride, LDL, VLDL level but also increased the HDL level, which is good for health.