Prunella vulgaris Linn. as antihyperlipidemic and antioxidant against high-fat diet induced oxidative stress in wistar rats

Background: Hyperlipidemia and underlying high cholesterol has been reported among the top five leading cause of global mortality. Many drugs and extracts from plant origin and specifically from Indian plants have been reported and used for hyperlipidemia alleviation. Objective: The present study was aimed to evaluate antioxidant and anti-hyperlipidemic activity of hydroalcoholic and aqueous extract of Prunella vulgaris Linn. against high-fat diet induced oxidative stress and hyperlipidemia in Wistar rats. Materials and Methods: Hyperlipidemia and oxidative stress was induced in wistar rats with high-fat diet ad libitum. The hyperlipidemic rats were then treated with gavage feeding with aqueous and hydroalcoholic extract of Prunella vulgaris at different doses (100, 250 and 500 mg/kg b.wt./day). The effect was compared with standard drug Lovastatin (7.2mg/Kg). Results: The high-fat diet showed marked increase in the lipid profile levels in rats as measured by enzyme analytical methods. Both the extracts of the plants showed marked lowering of LDL and VLDL while the aqueous extract showed a substantial increase in HDL (Good Cholestrol). In addition, promising radical scavenging effects were observed through in vitro superoxide, hydroxyl, and hydrogen peroxide assays. Conclusion: The present study established rhizome/root extract of Prunella vulgaris as a promising anti-oxidant and anti-hyperlepedimic agent. However, further investigations are needed to understand the mechanistic basis of this effect of the extract and its chemical constituents thereof.