In vivo hypocholesterolemic and anti-inflammatory effect of Aloysia triphylla (L'Hér.) Britton and Trigonella foenum-græcum L. seeds

Abstract Aqueous and hydroethanoic extracts prepared from leaves of Aloysia triphylla (L'Her.) Britton (lemon verbena) and Trigonella foenum-graecum L. (fenugreek) seeds were evaluated for in vivo hypocholesterolemic and anti-inflammatory effects. The results of administration of A.triphylla leaf and T. foenum-graecum extracts on serum total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG), high-density lipoprotein (HDL), low-density lipoprotein (LDL) and very-low density lipoprotein (VLDL) in hypocholesterolemic mice were evaluated. Mice groups treated with both aqueous and hydroethanoic extracts of A. triphylla showed reduced total cholesterol (161.60 and 162.60 mg/dl, for mice groups treated with respective extracts) and LDL (79.16 and 99.04 mg/dl, for mice groups treated with respective extracts) levels as compared to the hypercholesterolemic group (253.00 and 160.00 mg/dl for TC and LDL, respectively). A similar trend was observed with the aqueous and hydroethanoic extracts of T. foenum-groecum seeds. Mice treated with hydroethanoic extracts (200 mg/kg body weight) of A. triphylla leaves and T. foenum-groecum seeds showed significantly reduced triglyceride and VLDL levels compared to the group treated with atorvastatin (18.76 and 18.20 mg/dl, respectively). In terms of phytochemical composition, caffeic acid were detected in both A. triphylla leaves and T. foenum-graecum seeds extracts. However, rutin and luteolin have not been detected in any extracts of A. triphylla and T. foenum-graecum. Data collected from this study support the fact of future development of novel botanical remedies from A. triphylla leaves and T. foenum-graecum seeds for managing hypercholesterolemia and atherosclerosis.