assessment of lipid lowering effect of nepeta hindostana herb extract in experimentally induced dyslipidemia

Ethnopharmacological relevance: Nepeta hindostana traditional Indo-Pak medicine with cardioprotective properties. The aim of the study is to assess the lipid lowering effect of Nepeta hindostana extracts in experimentally induced dyslipidemia in rats. Material and methods: The dyslipidemia was induced by administration of intraperitoneal (i.p.) injection of triton WR 1339 (400 mg/kg) (acute study) and fed high cholesterol diet for 21 days (sub-acute study). Results: Methanolic extract (400 mg/kg) have lowest atherogenic index and maximum % protection in triton and cholesterol diet induced dyslipidemia. Lipid levels were significantly attenuated by different doses of extracts. The histology of blood vessels also proved the effectiveness of both extracts (at dose 400 mg/kg) in case of dyslipidemia induced by cholesterol diet. Methanolic extract was found more effective than aqueous extract. Conclusion: The results indicate that antidyslipidemic effect of the plant extracts was meditated through the inhibition of biosynthesis, absorption and secretion of lipids. This may be possibly due partly to the presence of antioxidant constituents in this plant. Therefore, the present study rationalizes the medicinal use of Nepeta hindostana in dyslipidemia.