Abstract

POTENTIAL HYPOLIPIDEMIC EFFECTS OF POLICOSANOL (SACCHARUM OFFICINARUM) IN HYPERLIPIDEMIC INDUCED MALE ALBINO RABBITS

Dr. Ashok Purohit, Dr. Kumud Joshi and Dr. Bharat Kotru

ABSTRACT

High fat or cholesterol have been implicated in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis. The present study was designed to investigate the possible hypolipidemic effects of policosanol (Saccharum offcinarum wax) on cholesterol fed rabbits and to compare with standard drug available in the market (statin) .The rabbits were first made exogeneously hyperlipidemic by giving them high fat diet and cholesterol powder (500mg/kg body weight) in 5mL of coconut oil orally for 15 days and then were administered with drugs like Policosanol and statin. In the hyperlipidemic rabbits there were an apparent reduction in the animal body weight_and_a significant increase_in serum total cholesterol (78.63%), triglyceride (27.24%), LDL-c (78.56 %) and VLDL-c (38.04%) with a concomitant non significant increase in serum HDL-c (25.00%) . Whereas oral treatment of animals with Policosanol for about 45 days in a dose of 0.50 mg/kg body weight lead to non significant change in the animal body weight but show significant reduction in serum total cholesterol (95%), triglyceride (82%), LDL-c (97%) and VLDL-c (82%) with a slightly non significant increase in serum HDL-c. The nearby same results were observed in statin treatment. Policosanol was found nearly equal in efficacy like statin standard drug in comparison with hyperlipidemic animals on all serum lipid parameters . Thus policosanol extract offers promising hypolipidemic effects with no drug related disturbances in safety medications that may be mainly attributed to its potent antiatherosclerotic potential.

Keywords: Antiatherosclerotic potential, Policosanol, Hyperlipidemia, Statin, Cholesterol.