Hypolipidemic activity of aqueous extract of Melothria maderaspatana

Abstract

The present study investigates the hypolipidemic effect of aqueous extract of whole plant of Melothria maderaspatana (AEMM) in high fat diet fed rats. In this study three doses (0.5, 1 and 2 gm kg-1) of AEMM were used. Treatment with AEMM (2 gm kg-1, p.o.) had shown significant reduction in the lipid level in high fat diet fed animals. The AEMM exhibited significantly hypolipidemic activity comparable with the navaka guggulu (400mg kg-1) in high fat diet induced rats. In histological evaluation of the hepatic tissue, marked degenerative and fatty changes in liver of rats (high fat diet fed) were observed. Whereas, on treatment with the aqueous extract of M. maderaspatana and Navaka guggulu illustrate, striking micro vesicular fatty changes with control and reference drug navaka guggulu in rat's liver.