Effect of ethanolic extract of Cyclea peltata Lam on a hypercholesterolemic rat model.

The current investigation focuses attention on the cholesterol lowering property of the ethanolic extract of Cyclea peltata Lam on experimentally induced hypercholesterolemia in rats. The serum cholesterol (total and low density lipoproteins) and triglyceride levels of rats fed with a diet containing, by weight, 18% casein, 1% cholesterol and 0.5% cholic acid increased, when compared to rats fed with a normal diet. The levels of total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TG) and LDL cholesterol (LDL-C) were reduced significantly (P<0.05) while HDL cholesterol (HDL-C) levels increased (P<0.05) in rats given, C. peltata extract orally at a dose of 100 mg/kg body wt./day for 30 days. Furthermore, the serum thiobarbituric acid-reactive substance levels decreased significantly (P<0.05) after administration of the extract, indicating that C. peltata could prevent hypercholesterolemia by reducing lipid peroxidation. This study, thus demonstrates that this plant may be a useful therapy for hypercholesterolemia through reducing oxidative stress and cholesterol levels.