Hypolipidemic, Antioxidant and Anti-atherosclerogenic Effect of Catalpol in Hypercholesterolemic Induced Rats

Background: Atherosclerosis, oxidative stress and hyperlipidemia are major risk factors in the pathogenesis of cardiovascular diseases. Cardiovascular diseases are public health problem all over world and constitute more than 17 million deaths in a year. Catalpol is well-known is an iridoid glucoside found in the roots of Rehmanniaglutinosa and known to have several protective effect against diabetic encephalopathy, neurotoxicity and hyperglycemia. The present study was aimed to analyze the hypolipidemic, anti-atherosclerogenic and antioxidant effect of catalpol in hyperlipidemic induced rats. Methods: Rats were grouped into normal control, hyperlipidemic, hyperlipidemic + 10 mg/kg of catalpol, hyperlipidemic + 20 mg/kg of catalpol and hyperlipidemic + 10 mg/kg of simvastatin. Treatment was administered orally for 45 consecutive days. Result: Hyperlipidemic rats treated with catalpol and simvastatin significantly reduced excessive body weight gain. Lipid peroxidation was reduced 36.4% and 115.2% at 10 and 20 mg/kg of catalpol. Hyperlipidemic rats treated with catalpol and simvastatin significantly improved the catalase, glutathione peroxidase (Gpx), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and reduced glutathione (GSH) in the serum to the near normal range, whereas HMG-CoA reductase, total cholesterol, liver enzymes in the liver tissues were reduced significantly. Furthermore, catalpol treatment reduced the serum level triglycerides, total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein (LDL) and very low-density lipoprotein (VLDL) and increased the high-density lipoprotein (HDL). Taking all these data together, catalpol supplementation appears to function as an anti-hyperlipidemic agent in Triton WR 1339-induced hyperlipidemic rats.