Hypolipidemic and Antioxidant effects of Seabuckthorn leaf based Herbal formulation

Abstract

Fruit, seed and leaf of seabuckthorn plant (Hippophae ramnoides L. Elaeagnaceae) herb naturally grown at altitude deserts has been studied in depth for nutritional and medicinal application. A herbal formulation (HF) developed with seabuckthorn leaf as major ingredient with added herbs and spices was evaluated for its hypolipidemic and antioxidative properties in normal and hypercholestremic rats exposed to Hexachlorocyclohexane (HCH) induced oxidative stress. HF decreased significantly total cholesterol (TC) Triglyceride (TG) low very low density lipoprotein (LDL + VLDL) and thiobarbutyric acid reactive substances (TBARS) and increased High density lipoprotein (HDL). Converse was true in animals fed with HCH decreased the activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) and the levels of glutathione (GSH) but increased malonaldehyde (MDA) in liver. These effects were reversed significantly with the incorporation of HF in the diet. Antioxidant vitamin A and E concentration decreased in HCH fed animals where as the levels of vitamin C increased on HCH diet. The overall effect of HF was same in both normal as well as in hypercholestremic animals. The developed HF has shown to have hypolipidemic antioxidative and heptao protective properties