Abstract

The aqueous extract of Desmodium gangeticum (L) DC (Fabaceae) (DG) was studied in isoproterenol induced myocardial infarcted (MI) rats for the hypocholesterolemic and antioxidant effect. After inducing MI by isoproterenol (35 mg/kg b wt. i.p.), the aqueous extract of Desmodium gangeticum root at a dose of 3 ml/100 g b wt. was orally administered daily for a period of 30 days in six rats. On induction of MI, the activities of creatinine phosphokinase (CPK), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and serum glutamate oxaloacetate transaminase (SGOT) increased in myocardial tissue, hepatic tissue and serum. Pretreatment of DG to MI rats prevented the increase of these enzymes. The hypocholesterolemic effect of DG was assessed by the concentration of total cholesterol, low density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, high density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol and through the activities of 3-hydroxy 3-methyl glutaryl co-enzyme (HMG CoA) reductase and lecithin cholesterol acyl transferase (LCAT) in the myocardial tissue. The significant (P < 0.001) decrease in the concentration of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) and improved activities of glutathione reductase and catalase in the myocardial tissues of rats treated with DG suggest free radical scavenging activity of the extract.