Effect of hydroalcoholic extract of Zataria multiflora Bioss on serum lipids levels in high cholesterol diet fed Rats

One of the risk factors for heart diseases is hyperlipidemia. Research has shown that the flavonoid and antioxidant are effective in removing hyperlipidemia. The purpose of this study was to compare the effect of alcoholic extract of zataria multiflora with atorvastatin on blood lipid profile. 56 Wistar male rats were divided into 7 groups each of which included 8 animals which were treated for 4 weeks with 7 dieting systems. The groups were: Group 1 (Control I): Normal diet and unlimited water and food; Group 2: Daily normal food + 3g/kg corn oil as a means for cholesterol; Group 3 (Control II، hypercholestrolemia): Usual daily food + 2g/kg cholesterol dissolved in 3g/kg corn oil; Group 4: Treated like group 3 but with increased 10 mg/kg Atorvastatin as an anti-fat; Groups 5، 6، and 7: Treated like group 3 but received 100، 200 & 300 mg/kg Z. M. extract، respectively. After 4 weeks، and at the end of the experiment، following 14 hours of starvation، the rats got anesthesia with chloroform and the blood sample was taken from the heart. The blood was collected in test tubes and transferred to the laboratory. After determining the factors of TG، TC، LDL، VLDL & HDL، the data were analyzed with SPSS software employing ANOVA (F-test). It seems that corn oil and cholesterol increased the blood fat factors significantly. As was expected، Group 4 showed a reduction in these factors; Groups 5، 6 & 7، which received Z. M. extract، decreased the blood fat factors significantly، except that HDL increased significantly. Results of this study showed that the extract of Zataria multiflora has anti hyperlipidemia effects and can be used as a herbal medicine in controlling the blood cholesterol.