Swertiamarin: A lead from Enicostemma littorale Blume. for anti-hyperlipidaemic effect

• Published in: European journal of pharmacology Vol. 617; no. 1; pp. 108 - 112
• Main Authors: Vaidya, Hitesh, Rajani, Mandapati, Sudarsanam, Vasudevan, Padh, Harish, Goyal, Ramesh
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Amsterdam Elsevier B.V 01.09.2009; Elsevier
• Subjects: Animals; Atherosclerosis; Atherosclerosis (general aspects, experimental research); Atorvastatin; Bile Acids and Salts - metabolism; Biological and medical sciences; Blood and lymphatic vessels; Cardiology. Vascular system; Cholesterol, Dietary - pharmacology; Coronary heart disease; Disorders of blood lipids. Hyperlipoproteinemia; Enicostemma littorale Blume; Feces; Gentianaceae; Gentianaceae - chemistry; Glucosides - isolation & purification; Glucosides - pharmacology; Glucosides - therapeutic use; Heart; HMG-Co A reductase; Hydroxymethylglutaryl CoA Reductases - metabolism; Hypercholesterolemia - blood; Hypercholesterolemia - chemically induced; Hypercholesterolemia - drug therapy; Hypercholesterolemia - metabolism; Hyperlipidemia; Hypolipidemic Agents - isolation & purification; Hypolipidemic Agents - pharmacology; Hypolipidemic Agents - therapeutic use; Iridoid Glucosides; Iridoids - isolation & purification; Iridoids - pharmacology; Iridoids - therapeutic use; Lipids - blood; Male; Medical sciences; Metabolic diseases; Pharmacology. Drug treatments; Pyrones - isolation & purification; Pyrones - pharmacology; Pyrones - therapeutic use; Rats; Rats, Sprague-Dawley; Secoiridoid glycoside; Sterols - metabolism; Swertiamarin; HMG-Co A reductase; Hyperlipidemia; Gentianaceae; Atherosclerosis; Secoiridoid glycoside; Enicostemma littorale Blume; Swertiamarin; Coronary heart disease; Iridoid; Enzyme; Metabolic diseases; Cardiovascular disease; Lipids; Vascular disease; Dicotyledones; Angiospermae; Spermatophyta; Glycoside; Hyperlipemia; Oxidoreductases; Dyslipemia; Reductase
• ISSN: 0014-2999; 1879-0712
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ejphar.2009.06.053

We have investigated the hypolipidemic effects of swertiamarin an active lead isolated from a perennial herb Enicostemma littorale Blume. in high cholesterol fed rats. Swertiamarin (50 and 75 mg/kg) and atorvastatin (50 mg/kg) was given orally daily for seven consecutive day to the high cholesterol feed rats. Serum total cholesterol, triglycerides, low density lipoprotein and very low density lipoprotein were found to be markedly elevated in the high cholesterol fed control rats and these changes were significantly prevented in swertiamarin treated animals. However, there was no significant effect on serum high density lipoprotein level. The 3-hydroxy 3-methyl glutaryl Co A (HMG-Co A) reductase activity was significantly inhibited in swertiamarin and atorvastatin treated groups compared to high cholesterol fed control group. Swertiamarin was also found to increased excretion of fecal bile acid and total sterols compared to control animals. In conclusion our data suggest that swertiamarin possess high antiatherogenic potential and an effective cholesterol lowering agent and inhibition of HMG-Co A reductase may be one of the main mechanisms of hypolipidemic effect of swertiamarin.