Anti-hyperlipidemic and biochemical effect of extract of <i>Tulbaghia violacea</i> rhizomes on high cholesterol diet fed rats

Abstract

Anti-hyperlipidemic and biochemical effect of methanolic extract of Tulbaghia violacea rhizomes were investigated in cholesterol rich diet induced hypercholesterolemia Wistar albino rats. Hypercholesterolemia was induced in rats by feeding with 2% cholesterol rich diet (high cholesterol diet, HCD) for four weeks. Some biochemical parameters and histology of the liver were assessed following 28 days oral treatment. Co-administration of extract of T. violacea rhizomes at 250 and 500 mg/kg respectively, significantly (p<0.05) protected against hypercholesterolemia induced alanine amino transferase (ALT) alterations in activities of serum aspartate amino transferase (AST), alanine amino transferase (ALT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), total bilirubin (TB), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), gamma glutamyl transferase (γGT), total cholesterol, triglycerides, albumin and total protein in a dose dependent manner. The extract also caused significant (p<0.05) increase in high density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol level. Anti-cholesterolemic and hepatoprotective effect of the extract at both doses were comparable and similar to that of the standard treatment of atorvastatin (30 mg/kg body weight). Histological examination of the liver showed that the extract markedly protected against hypercholesterolemia induced micro vesicular steatosis. This study suggests that T. violacea rhizome extract may protect against hypercholesterolemic induced diseases and this may account for its folklore usage.

Keywords: Anti-hyperlipidemic, Tulbaghia violacea rhizome, biochemical, lipid profile