Abstract

Achyranthes aspera Linn belonging to the family Amaranthaceae is used in the treatment of lipid disorders in the Indian system of medicine. The present study was undertaken to evaluate the hypolipidemic activity of saponin extract of A. aspera(SAA) at 1200 mg/kg body weight in male wistar rats fed on high fat (HF) diet for 8 weeks. Significant reduction (p<0.05) in food efficiency ratio (FER), body weight gain, visceral organ weight indices, serum total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TG), very low density lipoproteins (VLDL-C), low density lipoproteins (LDL-C), atherogenic index (AI), hepatic TC and TG levels was observed in SAA treated rats when compared to HF diet alone fed rats. Significant elevation (p<0.05) in levels of serum high density lipoproteins (HDL-C), fecal TC and TG was observed in SAA treated group when compared to HF diet alone fed group. These results suggest that SAAhas both hypolipidemic and weight reducing effects on HF diet fed rats. This may be mediated through reduced absorption and elevated excretion of lipids by saponins ofA.aspera extract.

key words: Achyranthes aspera, high fat diet, hyperlipidaemia, orlistat, saponins.