CHOLESTEROL LOWERING POTENTIAL OF SEABUCKTHORN

Abstract

The present study was designed to investigate the effect of Seabuckthorn on lipid profile, its antioxidant potency and its effect on hemodynamic changes and baroreceptor mediated blood pressure regulatory mechanisms in hypercholesterolemic rats. For induction of hypercholesterolemia rats were fed with fructose in drinking water and in vivo experiment had done to investigate the hemodynamic as well as the biochemical profile of seabuckthorn. It is a natural product and investigations carried out so far do not report any apparent toxic effect. Based on the results of the present study, it is recommended that seabuckthorn pulp oil may be supplemented with normal diet for providing protection against hypercholesterolemia. The fall in blood pressure of animals having a normal lipid profile suggests that it may have a hypotensive effect. Hence, its use as a lipid-lowering agent needs to be carefully monitored especially in people with cardiac problems. Conclusive evidence shows that baroreceptor modulation of heart rate is impaired in animals and patients with atherosclerosis. It has been suggested that oxygen free radicals produced in atherosclerosis may contribute to baroreceptor dysfunction. Seabuckthorn prevented the development of hypertension and reduced insulin resistance in chronically fructose-fed rats and reduced vascular superoxide anion production through lowering the NAD (P) H oxidase activity in hypertensive rats.

KEYWORDS:    Hypercholesterolemia, Hypertension, Atherosclerosis, Baroreceptor dysfunction, Free radicals.