Evaluation of Hypolipidemic Effects of Lyciumbarbarum (goji Berry) in a Murine Model

Lycium barbarum L. Solanaceae a traditi onal medicinal plant of China has been accorded a very high safety value. It has been known to possess various benefi cial eff ects like reducti on of blood glucose and serum lipids in alloxan-induced diabetes models, anti -ageing, immuno-modulati ng, anti -cancer, anti -fati gue, and male ferti lity-facilitatory acti ons. The present study is an att empt to explore the hypolipidemic eff ects of powdered L. barbarum in high fat diet-induced model of hyperlipidemia. Powdered L. barbarum fruit extract (250mg/kg and 500mg/kg) was administered to Wistar albino rats fed on a cholesterol-rich high-fat diet for 45 days. The eff ects were compared with the standard drug atorvastati n (10 mg/kg/day, oral). Aft er 30 days of treatment, the lipid profi le of the blood samples of the experimental rodents was evaluated.The data presented as mean±SEM were analysed using one-way ANOVA followed by Tukey’s post hoc test. P<0.05 was considered as stati sti cally signifi cant. In the present study, L. barbarum powdered extract showed a signifi cant reducti on in the total cholesterol, triglycerides and very low density lipoprotein-cholesterol levels at both the doses employed (p<0.05). However, reducti on in low density lipoprotein-cholesterol levels was signifi cant (p<0.05) only at the dose of 500 mg/kg when compared to the standard drug group. The increase in high-density lipoprotein levels was signifi cant only at 250 mg/kg. The data thus suggests the positi ve anti -hyperlipidemic acti vity of L. barbarum in high fat diet-induced hyperlipidemia in rats.