Hypolipidemic activity of ethanolic extract of Saccharum spontaneum in atherogenic diet induced rats

Background: Saccharum spontaneum (Poaceae) commonly known as Wild sugarcane is a popular folk medicine in traditional systems of medicine in India. The whole plant is used to treat mental diseases, abdominal disorders, dyspnoea, anaemia, obesity, diuretic, lithotriptic, purgative, tonic, aphrodisiac, gynecological troubles, respiratory troubles etc. The present investigation was aimed to study the effect of ethanolic extract of Saccharum spontaneum whole plant (ESSW) in attenuating hyperlipidemia which is associated with many cardiovascular diseases like atherosclerosis. Methods: Hyperlipidemia was induced to rats by feeding atherogenic diet (AD) for a period of 21 days. The lipid profile was taken as the major marker of Hyperlipidemia and accordingly the changes in serum total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TG), low density lipoprotein (LDL-C), and high density lipoprotein (HDL-C) were measured (using enzymatic kits) after treatment with the ethanolic extract of Saccharum spontaneum whole plant (ESSW) and standard (atorvastatin). Results and discussion: The oral administration of ESSW (100 and 200 mg/kg body weight) for 21 days significantly lowered the TC, TG and LDL-C levels while increase in HDL levels were observed in a dose dependent manner. Conclusion: Based on the results obtained, it can be concluded that ESSW has significant antihyperlipidemic properties and can be used in the treatment of vascular disorders including atherosclerosis. The potential activity of the extracts can be attributed to the presence of antioxidant principles such as phenolic compounds which were reported from the plant.