SCREENING OF THE POTENTIAL ANTIHYPERCHOLESTERMIC ACTIVITY OF SOME EGYPTIAN HERBS

Elatik IY
Department of Pharmacognosy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Cairo University, Egypt.
Tohamy AF
Department of Toxicology and Forensic Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Cairo University, Egypt.
Kassem HA
Department of Pharmacognosy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Cairo University, Egypt.
Eid HH
Department of Pharmacognosy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Cairo University, Egypt.
Hifnawy MS
Department of Pharmacognosy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Cairo University, Egypt.

Egyptian red onion ,Garlic ,Ginger ,Guggul ,Nasturtium ,Antihypercholesterolemic effect ,

Hypercholestermia is the main risk factor for development and progress of cardiovascular disease. The direct relation between high cholesterol level and mortality due to heart disease is well known. Herbs such as onion, garlic and ginger attract special interest as herbal medicine because of their potential health benefits especially as antihypercholestermic plants. Screening of the antihypercholestermic activity of the alcoholic extracts of some Egyptian herbs [red onion, garlic, ginger, and garden nasturtium] as well as guggul resin. Hypercholestermia was induced by single i.p. injection of Triton -X100 in a dose of 100 mg/kg body weight of the experimental animals. Male Wistar rats were divided into eight groups each comprising 5 animals as follows : negative control ,Triton-X100, Atorvastatin [reference standard 10 mg/kg],garden nasturtium [750 mg/kg], red onion [50 mg/kg], garlic [0.4g/ ml] , ginger[400 mg/kg] and guggul resin [200 mg/kg] groups. Doses were determined according to reported data. All groups received Triton- X 100 except the negative control. According to cholesterol biosynthesis, metabolism and excretion, blood samples were analyzed after 24, 48 and 72 hrs and at 8th day. Histopathological examination of blood vessels was carried out on the last day. Guggul and ginger showed significant reduction in cholesterol level after 24, 48 and 72 hrs only. While garden nasturtium and onion extracts showed significant protection all over the experiment schedule, where as garlic extract exerts its effect only after 72 hrs and on day 8th of Triton- X 100 treatment. The obtained results revealed that garden nasturtium and onion extracts have dual effect in reducing blood cholesterol and keep the normal appearance of blood vessel.

4 , 2 , 2014