In vivo evaluation of antihyperlipidemic, antihyperglycemic and hepatoprotective effects of Vernonia anthelmintica seeds in diet model.

Anti-hyperglycemic, anti-hyperlipidemic and hepatoprotective effects of Vernonia anthelmintica seeds were evaluated in diet rat model. The study included forty eight Sprague Dawley rats of either sex with eight animals in each group. Except for control the disease control, standard and treatment groups were treated with high-fat high-sugar diet for 8 weeks. After confirmation of hyperlipidemia and hyperglycemia, the standard group received atorvastatin (2.1 mg.kg-1), treatment groups received hexane extract, ethanol extract and water decoction of Vernonia anthelmintica seeds (300mg.kg-1) for next 30 days. Disease control and control were given normal saline in volume equivalent to other groups. High-fat high-sugar diet was continued in all groups except control for 30 day period. Lipid profile, liver function tests and fasting blood sugar were analyzed in fasting blood samples. Cardiac risk parameters were calculated and results were analyzed by one way ANOVA using SPSS. All three tested extracts showed significant decrease in fasting blood glucose, LDL-C, triglycerides, VLDL-C and cardiac risk parameters as compared to disease control. However, HDL-C and cholesterol levels in treatment groups were found to be significantly increased compared to disease control. Furthermore, treatment groups showed significantly decreased AST and ALP levels compared to disease control. Hexane extract, ethanol extracts and water decoction of Vernonia anthelmintica seeds exhibited potential anti-hyperglycemic, anti-hyperlipidemic effects with favorable hepatic profile. However, further studies should be designed to strengthen these findings on mechanistic ground.