Protective effect of Phyllanthus niruri on alcohol and heated sunflower oil induced hyperlipidemia in Wistar rats

The relationship between chronic alcohol consumption and various hepatic lesions are grouped under the term alcoholic liver disease. This is an extremely common disease with a high mortality. Alcoholics, along with alcohol, consume high fat diet and are susceptible to permanent liver damage. The current treatment modalities are inadequate and the need for effective treatment without side-effects is increasing. The present work tested the protective role of Phyllanthus niruri aqueous leaf extract on alcohol and heated sunflower oil-induced hyperlipidemia. Male albino rats of Wistar strain were used for this study. This study analyzed the variation in lipid profiles; cholesterol, triglycerides, phospholipids, and free fatty acids in liver, histopathological changes, and the activities of liver marker enzymes in the plasma. The liver damage was apparent with the increase in the activities of AST and ALT in the rats treated with alcohol + heated sunflower oil (ΔPUFA). Treatment with P.niruri protected the liver from damage, and prevented the release of the liver markers enzymes. The levels of cholesterol, triglycerides, and free fatty acids were increased significantly in the alcohol + ΔPUFA group. Administration of P.niruri extract effectively reduced their levels. The phospholipid levels, which were decreased in the liver of the alcohol + ΔPUFA group, were positively modulated by treatment with P.niruri. The histopathological observations were also in correlation with the biochemical parameters. From the results obtained, one could conclude that the P.niruri leaf extract effectively protects the system against alcohol and ΔPUFA-induced hyperlipidemia and has a definite anti-hyperlipidemic potential.