BACKGROUND

Hyperlipidemia is one of the major risk factors for atherosclerosis and cardiovascular diseases. Some plants are effective in controlling hyperlipidemia.

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the anti-hyperlipidemic effect of Clitoria ternatea L. and Vigna mungo L. (Fabaceae) on experimentally induced hyperlipidemia in rats.

METHODS

The poloxamer 407-induced acute hyperlipidemia and diet-induced hyperlipidemia models were used for this investigation.

RESULTS

Oral administration of the hydroalcoholic extract of the roots and seeds of C. ternatea and the hydroalcoholic extract of the seeds of V. mungo resulted in a significant (p < 0.05) reduction of serum total cholesterol, triglycerides, very low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels. The atherogenic index and the HDL/LDL ratio were also normalized after treatment in diet-induced hyperlipidemic rats. The effects were compared with atorvastatin (50 mg/kg, p.o.) and gemfibrozil (50 mg/kg, p.o.), reference standards.

CONCLUSIONS

The cholesterol-lowering effect of C. ternatea might be attributed to increased biliary excretion and decreased absorption of dietary cholesterol. The cholesterol-lowering effects of V. mungo seeds might be because of decreased HMG-CoA reductase activity, increased biliary excretion, and decreased absorption of dietary cholesterol. Additionally, they improved natural antioxidant defense mechanisms.

CONCLUSIONS

The findings of the investigation suggest that C. ternatea and V. mungo have significant antihyperlipidemic action against experimentally-induced hyperlipidemia.