Purpose: To investigate the hypolipidemic potential of the 70 % ethanol fruit extract of
Prosopis cineraria
(Fabaceae) (Et. PCF) in triton-induced hyperlipidemia in rats.
Methods: Et-PCF was obtained by pulverizing whole dried fruits and extracting with 70 % ethanol. Adult
Sprague Dawley rats were divided into six groups of six rats each. The groups were namely normal
control, hyperlipidaemic control, standard drug-treated (simvastatin 4 mg/kg), and three Et-PCF (200,
400 and 600 mg/kg, respectively)-treated groups. Apart from normal control, all other groups received a
single dose of triton (200 mg/kg, i.p.) exactly 30 min after a dose of the standard drug and Et-PCF for
the induction of hyperlipidemia. Twenty four hours after triton injection, hyperlipidemia was confirmed by
collecting blood samples from all the rats and testing for serum lipid profile. Antioxidant activity, in the
form of inhibition of lipid peroxidation, was determined along with chromatographic analysis. Moreover,
molecular docking study of β-sitosterol (active constitute of PCF) was performed with Farnesoid X
receptor.
Results: Triton-induced hyperlipidemia group showed significant increase in total cholesterol, low
density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL), very low density lipoprotein cholesterol (VLDL) , triglyceride,
atherogenic index and decreased high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL), compared to normal
control group. Et-PCF treated groups showed reduction in serum cholesterol, triglyceride, VLDL and
LDL levels compared to triton treated control group. Extract at the dose of 200 mg/kg significantly
reduce serum cholesterol (p < 0.01) and serum LDL (p < 0.01). At the dose level of 400 mg/kg and 600
mg/kg extract is effective to significantly reduce serum cholesterol (p < 0.05), triglyceride (p < 0.05),
VLDL (p < 0.05), LDL (p < 0.05) and atherogenic index (p < 0.05) and these results are almost
equivalent to those of standard drug simvastatin. Furthermore, antioxidant activity, i.e., IC
50 of Et-PCF
was 58.33 μg/ml. Molecular docking score of β-sitosterol for Farnesoid X receptor was -8.32 kcal/mol,
suggesting excellent binding conformation of Et-PCF to receptor molecules.
Conclusion: The findings suggest that
Prosopis cineraria may be beneficial for preventing
hyperlipidaemic complications by its anti-hyperlipidemic and antioxidant activities.
