Geetha K

The incidence of coronary heart disease has markedly increased in India over the past few years. Ischemic heart disease, the largest cause of morbidity and mortality in the developed and developing countries today is overwhelmingly contributed by atherosclerosis. The main objective of the study is to evaluate the phytochemical screening of the plants and find out the potency of polyherbal formulation in high fat diet induced atherosclerosis in rats. Terminalia arjuna, Nardostachys jatamansi, Garcinia combogia, Tribulus terrestris, Inula racemosa are ayurvedic medicinal plants used in India to treat several ailments. The present study was aimed at performing pre-clinical studies of a polyherbal formulation prepared from the above mentioned plants in high cholesterol diet induced atherosclerosis in rats. The study highlights the activity of the polyherbal formulation in the treatment of atherosclerosis. 6 groups of male rats containing 5 animals per each group were taken and given 200mg/kg/day, 300mg/kg/day and 400mg/kg/day of hydroalcoholic extract of polyherbal formulation orally for 28 days along with the high cholesterol diet. The experiment showed promising results by significantly decreasing cholesterol, triglycerides, and LDL levels. Significant reduction in serum total cholesterol and increased HDL cholesterol was seen. The extract also showed hepato protective activity. MDA levels were reduced considerably. Our studies indicate that hydro alcoholic extract of plants used in polyherbal formulation exerts potent hypolipidemic effects in atherosclerotic rats which are evident from the histopathological results.