Lipid lowering efficacy of Pennisetum
glaucum bran in hyperlipidemic albino rats
I. Javed*, B. Aslam, M. Z. Khan1,
Zia-Ur-Rahman, F. Muhammad and M. K. Saleemi1
Department of Physiology and Pharmacology; 1Department
of Pathology, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, Pakistan
*Corresponding Author: sandhu_drijaz@yahoo.com
Abstract
The objective of the study was to determine lipid
lowering efficacy of Pennisetum (P) glaucum (Pearl millet, locally known as bajra), bran in
hyperlipidemia albino rats. Simvastatin, (Tablet survive®), was used as
cholesterol lowering synthetic drug. The period of 0-15 days was considered as a
lead-in period to induce hyperlipidemia with atherogenic diet in albino rats.
P. glaucum branat dose rate of 2, 4 and 6 g/kg BW showed lipid lowering efficacy in
hyperlipidemic rats at post-treatment days 30, 45 and 60. At the level of 6
g/kg, P. glaucum bran was able to produce a significant (P<0.05) increase in
HDL- cholesterol (47%) and fall in other lipid profile parameters i.e. total
lipids (41%), triglycerides(48%), total cholesterol (39%) and LDL- cholesterol
(55%). P. glaucum 6 g/kg also reduced total cholesterol in liver tissue
and increased fecal bile acid secretion. The results of present study suggest
that 6 g/kg P. glaucum bran and 0.6 mg/kg Simvastatin were equally
effective in treating hyperlipidemia in albino rats. Moreover, the potency of
P. glaucum for stimulating fecal bile acid secretion in albino rats may
safely be conceived, at least, as a part of mechanisms for its
antihyperlipidemic efficacy.