HYPOLIPIDEMIC ACTIVITY OF CASSIA TORA SEEDS IN HYPERLIPIDEMIC RATS

The hypolipidemic activity of Cassia tora (Chakvat, Chakunda) (Family: Caesalpiniaceae) seeds extract has been studied in two hyperlipidemic models of rat. These are triton injected and cholesterol rich HFD fed model of hyperlipidemia. In triton WR-1339 induced hyperlipidemia, feeding with root extract (500 mg/ kg body wt/ day p.o. ) exerted lipid lowering effect as assessed by reversal of plasma levels of total cholesterol (TC), phospholipids (PL), triglyceride (TG) and reactivation of Post Heparin Lipolytic Activity (PHLA) of plasma. The other model was fed with cholesterol rich HFD and seeds extract of Cassia tora (500 mg/ kg body wt/ day p.o.) simultaneously for 30 days. This also caused lowering of lipid levels in plasma and liver homogenate and reactivation of plasma post heparin lipolytic activity, hepatic total lipoprotein lipase activity. The hypolipidemic activity of Cassia tora seeds was compared with a standard drug guggulipid (200 mg/ kg body wt/ day p.o.), a known lipid lowering drug in both models.