Moringa oleifera Lam. A herbal medicine for hyperlipidemia: A pre–clinical report

ObjectiveHerbal medicine is a use of plant's seeds, roots, barks, leaves, berries or flowers for medicinal purposes. In this present study, leaves of Moringa oleifera Lam were evaluated for its hypolipidemic, antioxidant, anticoagulant, platelet antiaggregatory and antiinflammatory activity in experimental animals.MethodsThe experimental animals were divided into five groups of male Wistar rats each. The hydroalcoholic extract of Moringa oleifera (HEMO) was prepared and administered orally to hyperlipidemic rats for a period of 28 days.ResultsThe results showed that oral administration of HEMO at two different dose level (100 and 200mg/kg/b.wt) showed significant (P<0.001) reduction in elevated levels of body weight, total cholesterol, triglycerides, low density lipoprotein, very low density lipoprotein and similarly significant (P<0.001) increase in high density lipoprotein level. Atherogenic index was significantly reduced in the Moringa oleifera treated groups at tested dose levels. The antioxidant parameters of SOD, Catalase, MDA was significant (P<0.001) in vivo. The intravenous administration of HEMO delayed the plasma recalcification time in rabbits and also inhibited ADP induced platelet aggregation in vitro, which was comparable to commercial heparin. The significant (P<0.001) inhibition of proinflammatory cytokines like TNF-α and IL-1α by HEMO were taken as it s antiinflammatory activity.ConclusionsAll these results revealed the therapeutic potential of HEMO against vascular intimal damage and atherogenesis leading to various types of cardiovascular complications. Thus, Moringa oleifera can be prescribed as food appendage for coronary artery disease patients along with their regular medicines.