The effect of aerial parts of concurrent hydroalcoholic extracts of Hypericum perforatum L. and Amaranthus caudatus L. on fatty streak formation in hypercholesterolemic rabbits in comparison with lovastatin

Hypercholesterolemia and oxidative stress increase serum total cholesterol and LDL-C cholesterol levels resulting in increased risk for development of atherosclerosis. Antioxidants play an important role in inhibiting and scavenging radicals thus could be other important measures to benefit individuals with the increased cardiovascular disease risk factors. This study was designed to investigate the effect of aerial parts of Hypericum perforatum L. and Amaranthus caudatus L. on the development of atherosclerosis in male hyperlipidemic rabbits. Twenty adult male rabbits were randomly divided into four groups of five and were fed for 60 days as follows: basic diet, high cholesterol, high cholesterol along with combination Hypericum perforatum and Amaranthus caudatus (HA) extract (75mg/kg) and high cholesterol along with Lovastatin (10mg/kg). Blood samples were taken at the beginning, one month later and at the end of the study in order to measure their serum factors (cholesterol, LDL-C-C, HDL-C-C, TG). The fatty streak formation evaluated at the end of the study. The results showed that both the extract and lovastatin reduced significantly the levels of cholesterol, LDL-C-C, triglyceride and HDL-C-C) increased in comparison with high cholesterol group. Fatty streak formation in extract recipient group significantly decreased in comparison with high cholesterol group with lovastatin. The result showed that HA significantly decreased TG, cholesterol and fatty streak formation in comparison with high cholesterol group and lovastatin. These findings suggest HA extract is more effective in decreasing the level of cardiovascular risk factors than Lovastatin in hypercholesterolemic rabbits.