Evaluation of in vitro Cholesterol Esterase Inhibitory Activity of Few Selected Vegetables – An Indication of Cardioprotective Property

Background: Cardiovascular diseases are responsible for severe mortality rate amongst the population. Several drugs available to control and/ or cure the same, cause severe adverse effects amidst human population. Contextually, the present study was devised to screen the in vitro cholesterol esterase (CEase) activity of few selected vegetables as an indicator of cardioprotective property. Objectives: To screen and purify the polyphenolic fractionate from the vegetable(s) extract that record an optimal CEase activity. Materials and Methods: CEase inhibitory activity was investigated using standard spectrophotometric assay. Microwave assisted central composite design based response surface methodology (CCD based RSM) was executed to quantify an improvement in the CEase inhibitory activity of Solanum melongena extract. One dimensional thin layer chromatography (1D TLC) and two-dimensional preparative thin layer chromatography (2D PTLC) analyses were carried out for Brassica oleracea var. botrytis hot water extract to identify and eluate the polyphenolic fractionate, respectively. Results: Significant CEase inhibitory activity was noticed in the hot water extract of Brassica oleracea var. botrytis (84.65 ± 3.29%) than the other vegetable extracts. Even though the optimal process model was validated (at 5% level), no significant improvement was recorded in the CEase inhibition. The presence of polyphenolic content in the hot water extract of Brassica oleracea var. botrytis (Rf = 0.69) was confirmed by comparing with standard quercetin (Rf = 0.60). Strong blue and moderate brownish yellow color spots revealed the presence of phenolic acid and flavonoid eluates respectively, were purified using 2D PTLC technique. The eluate has recorded a near moderate (28.57 ± 2.12%) CEase inhibitory activity. Conclusion: Brassica oleracea var. botrytis possess significant CEase inhibitory activity and proved to be a good diet to protect from various cardiovascular diseases.