Abstract

PROTECTIVE EFFECT OF A COMBINATION OF ETHANOLIC RHIZOME EXTRACT OF ZINGIBER OFFICINALE ROSC., AND ROSUVASTATIN IN HIGH CHOLESTEROL DIET INDUCED HYPERLIPIDEMIC RATS

R. Nithya* and N. Jayshree

ABSTRACT

Cardiovascular diseases continue to be the leading cause of death in the industrialized nations. Hyperlipidemia with subsequent coronary atherosclerosis is the major trigger for ischemia and other cardiovascular diseases. Combination therapy often takes advantages of complementary effects of different agents. The present study is aimed at elucidating the beneficial effects of combined administration of ethanolic rhizome extract of Zingiber officinale (ERZO) 200 mg/kg & 400mg/kg p.o and Rosuvastatin (RSV) 10 mg/kg p.o, on high cholesterol diet induced hyperlipidemic rats. Adult rats were fed with a cholesterol- rich diet for 8 weeks and received either ERZO (400mg/kg p.o) or RSV (10mg/kg p.o) or a combination daily starting from sixth week of cholesterol diet administration for three weeks. Body weight was measured daily. On 57th day of the study, lipid profile (TC, TG, LDL, VLDL, HDL), AST and ALT were measured in serum. SOD and Catalase were quantified in cardiac homogenates and aortic lesions were examined by histopathology of aorta. Three weeks treatment with ERZO (400mg/kg p.o) and RSV (10 mg/kg) alone showed reduction in body weight, significant decrease in lipid levels and increase in SOD and catalase levels and reduction in the aortic lesions. But the combination of ERZO (200 mg/kg p.o 400mg/kg p.o) and RSV(10 mg/kg p.o) produced more significant reduction in body weight, normalized the lipid levels, significant reduction in the AST and ALT levels elevated by high cholesterol diet. It also showed a more significant increase in SOD and catalase levels and normalized the aortic lesions. These changes were found to be more significant than monotherapy. This study provides evidence that combination regimens containing Ginger and low dose of rosuvastatin could be advantageous in treating hyperlipidemia and atherosclerosis than monotherapy with either of the drugs.

Keywords: Zingiber officinale (ERZO), Rosuvastatin (RSV).