Abstract
Background: Hyperlipidemia is a major cause for atherosclerosis which is a frontline cause for mortality in the world. Bisflavonoids are dimeric flavonoids abundant in few medicinal herbs with various pharmacological effects. However, in vivo anti-hyperlipidemic role of bisflavonoids (BFR) is limited. The present investigation is aimed to study BFR from the leaf extract of Araucaria bidwillii Hook. in rat model of hyperlipidemia.
Results: Administration of HFD was significantly (p < 0.0001) shown to increase total cholesterol (TC), low-density lipoprotein (LDL), and triglycerides (TG) associated with decrease in HDL. BFR at two doses significantly decreased TC, LDL, and TG in HFD-fed rats. In addition, BFR significantly (p < 0.0001) decreased the MDA and significantly (p < 0.0001) increased the impaired anti-oxidant enzyme SOD and CAT in heart tissue induced by HFD. Further, 28 days administration of BFR significantly (p < 0.001) decreased HFD-induced aortic wall thickness.
Conclusion: It can be concluded that bisflavonoids from A. bidwillii Hook. leaf extract administered to high fat-fed rats showed beneficial anti-hyperlipidemic effect by reducing lipid profiles and protecting the heart tissue from oxidative stress.