Hypolipidemic effect of fresh Triticum aestivum (wheat) grass juice in hypercholesterolemic rats

Present study was aimed to elucidate hypolipidemic effect of fresh Triticum aestivum (common wheat) grass juice (GJ) in experimentally induced hypercholesterolemia in rats and to investigate its role in cholesterol excretion. Hypercholesterolemia was induced experimentally in rats by including 0.75 g% cholesterol and 1.5 g% bile salts in normal diet for 14 days. Hypercholesterolemic rats were administered fresh Triticum aestivum GJ at the dose of 5 mL/kg and 10 mL/kg and the standard drug atorvastatin 0.02% w/v in 2% gum acacia suspension at the dose of 1 mg/kg for 14 days by gavage. Blood samples were collected after 24 h of last administration and used for estimation of lipid profile. Fecal cholesterol levels were estimated using standard methods. Fresh GJ administration at 5 mL/kg and 10 mL/kg resulted in dose dependent significant decline in total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TG), low density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL-C) and very low density lipoprotein-cholesterol (VLDL-C) levels in hypercholesterolemic rats. Further, in comparison to atorvastatin, GJ administration at the dose of 10 mL/kg resulted in comparable decrease of TC, LDL-C, TG and VLDL-C levels (p > 0.05). Fecal cholesterol excretion was significantly (p < 0.05) enhanced by Triticum aestivum GJ administration. Phytochemical analysis revealed the presence of flavonoids, triterpenoids, anthraquinol, alkaloids, tannins, saponins and sterols in fresh wheat grass juice. The results of present study revealed hypolipidemic effect of Triticum aestivum GJ in hypercholesterolemic rats by increasing fecal cholesterol excretion. Fresh GJ could have potentially beneficial effect in atherosclerosis associated with hyperlipidemia.