FORMULATION AND CHARACTERIZATION OF HERBAL FORMULATION FOR ANTIHYPERLIPIDEMIC ACTIVITY IN DIET INDUCED OBESE MICE

摘要

In the present study, an Aloe vera based herbal formulation of the ethanolic extract of Trigonella foenum graecum (seed) was prepared and characterized for antihyperlipidemic and antiobesity activity. Ethanolic extract of the seeds of T. foenum graecum was obtained by the cold extraction method and then its Aloe vera based formulation was prepared. The prepared formulation was given orally (400 mg/kg) to the obese (high fat diet induced) mice for one month and at the end of one month the body weight, total cholesterol, triglyceride, HDL- cholesterol, serum creatinine and serum potassium were determined and compared with the control and standard group (received atorvastatin, 40.0 mg/kg). Standard group showed a total of 43.05 % body weight gain while the test formulation showed 39.54 % body weight gain only. In the in vivo study, the group which received the herbal formulation showed significantly lower serum total cholesterol, triglyceride and LDL-Cholesterol and higher values of serum HDL cholesterol. The test formulation showed better HDL/LDL ratio (0.86±0.02) as compared to the standard (0.66±0.09). The serum creatinine and serum potassium concentrations were also found to be lowered in the test group. The study suggested that the herbal formulation prepared from the ethanolic Trigonella extract possessed anti hyperlipidemic and anti obesity activity with efficacy even better than that of standard lipid lowering agent (atorvastatin). Hence, it was concluded that the herbal formulation may be a natural and safe remedy for the prevention and control of hyperlipidemia and obesity.