Tropical Journal of Pharmaceutical Research

Original Research Article | OPEN ACCESS

Anti-hyperlipidemic effects of Caralluma edulis (Asclepiadaceae) and Verbena officinalis (Verbenaceae) whole plants against high-fat diet-induced hyperlipidemia in mice

Aqsa Ashfaq¹, Arif-ullah Khan¹, Amber Mahmood Minhas¹, Tahir Aqeel², Asaad M Assiri³, Ishfaq A Bukhari⁴

¹Department of Pharmacology, Riphah Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Riphah International University, Islamabad; ²Department of Pharmacy, University of Lahore, Islamabad Campus, Lahore, Pakistan; ³Prince Abdullah Ben Khalid Celiac Disease Research Chair, Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine; ⁴Pharmacology Section, College of Medicine, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

For correspondence:- Ishfaq Bukhari Email: iabukhari@ksu.edu.sa

Accepted: 23 September 2017 Published: 31 October 2017

Citation: Ashfaq A, Khan A, Minhas AM, Aqeel T, Assiri AM, Bukhari IA. Anti-hyperlipidemic effects of Caralluma edulis (Asclepiadaceae) and Verbena officinalis (Verbenaceae) whole plants against high-fat diet-induced hyperlipidemia in mice. Trop J Pharm Res 2017; 16(10):2417-2423 doi: 10.4314/tjpr.v16i10.15

© 2017 The authors.
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Abstract

Purpose: To investigate the anti-hyperlipidemic effect of Caralluma edulis and Verbena officinalis.

Methods: Phytochemical analysis of crude extracts of Caralluma edulis (Ce.Cr) and Verbena officinalis (Vo.Cr) were carried out. Hyperlipidemia was induced in mice with high-fat diet (HFD, 1.25 % w/w cholesterol, 0.5 % w/w cholic acid and 10 % v/w coconut oil). All the groups, except the saline-treated group, were fed on HFD for 4 weeks (lead-in period) to induce hyperlipidemia. Thereafter, the groups were treated with varying doses of the plant extract for 2 weeks (treatment period) as well as atorvastatin (10 mg/kg) reference standard. Body weight was measured fortnightly for all groups. Total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TGs) and low density lipoprotein (LDL) were assayed using Merck diagnostic kits. For histopathological analysis, liver slices were fixed in 10 % formalin and embedded in paraffin wax and was examined with the aid of hematoxylin and eosin staining (H & E).

Results: Caralluma edulis (Ce.Cr) contains saponins, alkaloids, tannins, phenol, glycosides, terpenoids and flavonoids while Verbena officinalis (Vo.Cr) tested positive for the presence of alkaloids, carbohydrates, flavonoids, saponins and tannins. HFD increased total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TGs), low density lipoprotein (LDL) and very low density lipoprotein (VLDL) compared to regulator diet (p < 0.001). Treatment of the animals with Ce.Cr and Vo.Cr dose-dependently (500 - 1000 mg/kg) reduced serum TC, TGs, LDL and VLDL (p < 0.05, p < 0.01, p < 0.001, vs. HFD group) and raised high density lipoprotein (HDL) (p < 0.01, vs. HFD group), similar to that observed with atorvastatin (10 mg/kg). The anti-hyperlipidemic effects of Ce.Cr and Vo.Cr were also confirmed via liver histopathology results, showing improved structure with no hepatocellular necrosis and fat accumulation.

Conclusion: These results indicate that Caralluma edulis and Verbena officinalis exhibit anti-hyperlipidemic effect; thus, the plants have therapeutic potentials for the management of lipid disorders.

Keywords: Caralluma edulis, Verbena officinalis, Anti-hyperlipidemia, Hepatocellular necrosis