Antilipemic and hypocholesteremic activities of Globimetula braunii in rats.

Antilipemic/hypocholestermic activities of the methanolic extracts of Globimetula braunii were studied in the tissues of normo and hypercholesteremic rats. Hypercholesteremia was induced in the rats by feeding with dietary cholesterol at a dose of 40 mg/kg body weight. A significant increase (p<0.05) was observed in the body and the visceral organs relative weights in all the groups. There was a significant decrease in HDL-cholesterol and a significant increase in the levels of LDL, total cholesterol and triglycerides in hypercholesteremic rats when compared to normo rats. Administration of the methanolic extracts restored the elevated levels of serum lipids to normal. The methanolic extracts of G. braunii produced a significant (p<0.05) decrease in the levels of total cholesterol, triglyceride, LDL-cholesterol and lipid peroxidation of the extract treated group compared to hypercholesteremic control. There was a significant (p<0.05) increase in the levels of HDL-cholesterol as compared to hypercholesteremic control. The results obtained from this study are indications of the antilipemic and hypocholestermic activities of G. braunii as well as its cardio-protective potential in normo and hypercholesteremia conditions.