PHARMACOLOGICAL ASSESSMENT, ANTI-OXIDANT AND LIPID LOWERING EFFECTS OF HERBAL PLANT EXTRACTS IN HIGH-FAT DIET–INDUCED HYPERLIPIDEMIC RATS

Hyperlipidemia is a major metabolic disorder associated with cardiovascular diseases, oxidative stress, and hepatic dysfunction. Medicinal plants rich in natural antioxidants have gained significant attention as alternative therapeutic agents for the management of lipid abnormalities. The present study was designed to evaluate the phytochemical composition, antioxidant potential, acute oral toxicity, and antihyperlipidemic activity of the ethanolic extract of Murraya paniculata leaves. Preliminary phytochemical screening revealed the presence of alkaloids, flavonoids, glycosides, phenolic compounds, tannins, triterpenoids, and steroids. Quantitative analysis demonstrated considerable total phenolic content (49.11 mg/g gallic acid equivalent) and total flavonoid content (30.4 mg/g rutin equivalent). Antioxidant activity evaluated by DPPH free radical scavenging assay exhibited concentration-dependent activity with an IC50 value of 48.68 µg/mL. Acute oral toxicity studies performed according to OECD guideline 423 indicated that the extract was safe up to 2000 mg/kg body weight. Hyperlipidemia was induced in Wistar rats using a high-fat diet, and treatment with ethanolic extract of Murraya paniculata at doses of 200 and 400 mg/kg significantly improved serum lipid profile by reducing total cholesterol, triglycerides, LDL, and VLDL levels while improving HDL levels. Furthermore, the extract significantly reduced elevated hepatic biochemical markers including SGPT, SGOT, ALP, and total bilirubin, indicating hepatoprotective potential. The findings suggest that the ethanolic extract of Murraya paniculata possesses significant antioxidant, antihyperlipidemic, and hepatoprotective activities, which may be attributed to the presence of bioactive phytoconstituents such as phenolics and flavonoids.