ANTIHYPERLIPIDEMIC EFFECTS OF HYDROALCOHOLIC LEAF EXTRACT OF TEUCRIUM POLIUM IN HYPERCHOLESTEROLEMIC RATS

Hyperlipidemia is one of the most important factors contributing to the cardiovascular diseases. There are various chemical drugs for regulating the lipid profile level. According to the side effects proved for the chemical drugs, we, in the current research paper, investigate the effect of wall germander (Teucrium polium) hydroalcoholic extract effect on the lipid profile in the hypercholesterolemic rats. Wistar male rats, ranging in weight from 150 g to 180 g, were assigned to four groups (n=5): control group (ordinary diet), sham group (high, 2%, cholesterol dietary regime), experimental group one (high, 2%, cholesterol dietary regime plus 0.85mg/ml Teucrium polium hydroalcoholic extract) and experimental group two (high, 2%, cholesterol dietary regime plus 1.7mg/ml Teucrium polium hydroalcoholic extract). The treatment was run in an eight-week period with the termination of which blood samples were collected from the animals. To determine the lipid profile, commercial diagnostic kits were applied. The results were analyzed by the use of SPSS software, ver. 16. From the week six on, the weights of the rats from the experimental group two (high, 2%, cholesterol diet plus 1.7 mg/ml Teucrium polium hydroalcoholic extract) showed a significant decrease (P<0.05) even in comparison to the control group (ordinary diet). The serum level of triglycerides, cholesterol and LDL-c was found significantly decreased in the experimental group two (P<0.001) as compared to Sham group but it did not any significant change in contrast to the control group. In experimental group one (high, 2%, cholesterol dietary regime plus 0.85 mg/ml Teucrium polium hydroalcoholic extract), only the cholesterol and TG serum levels were found significantly decreased in respect to the sham group (P<0.05 and P<0.001, respectively). Regarding the lipoprotein amount, a significant increase was documented in the experimental group two, featuring high density cholesterol (HDL-c), in contrast to the sham group (P<0.001). The present study's findings indicated that an appropriate dosage of T. Polium can cause the regulation of lipid profile as well as the weights of the hypercholesterolemic rats. According to the side effects of the chemical drugs similar in their functions to the effect of T. polium, it can be suggested as an antihyperlipidemic drug. Keywords: Hyperlipidemic, Teucrium polium, Lipid profile, Medical plants, Rat.