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Tinospora crispa is reported to have anti-atherosclerotic effects and has great potential for use in traditional medicine, supplements and pharmaceutical preparations. However, to date there is not much literature documenting the effects of this plant on C-reactive protein and the development of atherosclerotic plaques in the event of hypercholesterolemia. Therefore, this study aimed to examine the effect of Tinospora crispa aqueous extract (TCAE) on C-reactive protein levels and the development of atherosclerotic plaques to better understand the possible mechanisms contributing to the anti-atherosclerotic effects of this plant. The results showed that TCAE was found to inhibit the development of atherosclerotic plaques caused by dietary cholesterol. The anti-atherosclerotic potential of TCAE is demonstrated by its ability to reduce CRP levels, atherosclerotic plaque coverage area and foam cell thickness at atherosclerotic lesions and maintain endothelial healing after arterial injury. Administration of 450 mg / kg of T. crispa extract was found to be the optimal concentration to control hypercholesterolemia and in turn reduce the risk factors of coronary artery disease.

Background: Previous findings have supported to the ethnopharmacological use of Anacardium occidentale Linn. in folk medicine. In this study, the toxicity properties and the hypocholesterolemic effect of aqueous extract of Anacardium occidentale Linn. were evaluated in hypercholesterolemic induced rabbits. Methods: Thirty Five male New Zealand White Rabbits were randomly assigned into five groups and fed with normal diet (NC), 0.5% high cholesterol diet (PC), 0.5% high cholesterol diet+10 mg/kg simvastatin (SC), 0.5% high cholesterol diet+100 mg/kg AOE (AOE100) and 0.5% high cholesterol diet+200 mg/kg AOE (AOE200). The study duration was set for 12 weeks. In vitro toxicity study has been performed using brine shrimp lethality test and MTT assay to determine the LC50 and IC50 values respectively while in vivo toxicity study has been evaluated in hypercholesterolemic induced rabbits. Blood samples were withdrawn at week 0 and 12. Results: Supplementation of 0.5% high cholesterol diet caused the elevation of TC, LDL and TG and also significantly rise (p<0.05) the level of liver enzymes compared to the normal control group. For in vitro toxicity screening, extracts demonstrated very low LC50 values and no IC50 value detected. For in vivo hypercholesterolemic induced rabbits, extracts were able to prevent the increment of liver enzymes: gamma-glutamyl transferase, alkaline phosphatase, aspartate aminotransferase and alanine aminotransferase compared to positive control group. Conclusion: Aqueous extract of AO found to be not toxic and posses hypocholesterolemic and hepatoprotective effects in hypercholesteromic induced rabbits.

Previous findings have supported to the ethnopharmacological use of Anacardium occidentale Linn. in folk medicine. In this study, the toxicity properties and the hypocholesterolemic effect of aqueous extract of Anacardium occidentale Linn. were evaluated in hypercholesterolemic induced rabbits. Thirty Five male New Zealand White Rabbits were randomly assigned into five groups and fed with normal diet (NC), 0.5% high cholesterol diet (PC), 0.5% high cholesterol diet+10 mg/kg simvastatin (SC), 0.5% high cholesterol diet+100 mg/kg AOE (AOE100) and 0.5% high cholesterol diet+200 mg/kg AOE (AOE200). The study duration was set for 12 weeks. In vitro toxicity study has been performed using brine shrimp lethality test and MTT assay to determine the LC50 and IC50 values respectively while in vivo toxicity study has been evaluated in hypercholesterolemic induced rabbits. Blood samples were withdrawn at week 0 and 12. Supplementation of 0.5% high cholesterol diet caused the elevation of TC, LDL and TG and also significantly rise (p<0.05) the level of liver enzymes compared to the normal control group. For in vitro toxicity screening, extracts demonstrated very low LC 50 values and no IC 50 value detected. For in vivo hypercholesterolemic induced rabbits, extracts were able to prevent the increment of liver enzymes: gammaglutamyl transferase, alkaline phosphatase, aspartate aminotransferase and alanine aminotransferase compared to positive control group. Aqueous extract of AO found to be not toxic and posses hypocholesterolemic and hepatoprotective effects in hypercholesteromic induced rabbits.

The in vitro antioxidant activity of Citrus mitis aqueous extract (CME) and its effects on antioxidative status and lipid profiles of rat fed with high cholesterol diet were examined. The in vitro antioxidant activity was assessed by 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and ferric-reducing antioxidant power (FRAP), while the total phenolic content was measured as gallic acid equivalent. The antioxidative status in the plasma was further assessed by thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) assay whereas plasma lipid profile was analysed spectrophotometrically. The result showed that both 5 and 10% extracts possessed antioxidant activities in concentration dependent manner in all tested methods which positively correlated with high phenolic content. The supplementation of 5 mg/kg of both 5 and 10% CME respectively reduced plasma total cholesterol (TCHOL), low-density lipoprotein (LDL) and triglycerides (TG) levels concomitantly with an increased level of high-density lipoprotein (HDL) in rat induced hypercholesterolemia (p < 0.05). The lipid parameters were comparable with statin. The atherogenic index (AI) and sdLDL values were found to be lower in CME-treated groups compared to the control (p < 0.05). Microsomal lipid peroxidation indicated with TBARS estimation was found to be lower in both CME-treated groups. The results obtained suggest that C. mitisaqueous extract possesses lipid lowering and antioxidative effect in hypercholesterolemic-induced model and could potentially be used as therapeutic regiment in managing hypercholesterolemia.

This study was designed to examine the nutritional composition, antioxidant activity and medium lethal concentration (LC50 value) of Tamarindus indica L. pulp and seed extracts in vitro. The extraction was set at 40°C, 60°C and 100°C for 12 hours, 6 hours and 15 minutes respectively to determine the optimum extraction parameter whereas the anti-oxidant activity of the extracts was measured using iron (III) reduction (FRAP) assay. Total phenolic content (TPC) of the extracts was estimated as gallic acid equivalent by Folin-Ciocalteau method. Toxicity potential of the extract was assessed in vitro by Artemia salina lethality test both in seed and pulp samples. The results showed that tamarind seed contained a higher percentage of carbohydrate, protein, fat and energy (15%, 82%, 95% and 33.13% respectively) than the pulp. On the other hand, the pulp demonstrated a high moisture (51.1%) and ash (34.84%) content than the seed. For the mineral analysis, tamarind seed contained higher Ca and C (1.0% and 50.73% respectively) than the pulp (0.27% and 40.40% respectively). No heavy metals were detected in both samples. Seed extracted at 60°C/6 hours and 100°C/15 minutes showed the highest TPC value and were significantly different (p<0.05) than the seed extracted at 40°C/12 hours. Anti-oxidant activity is positively correlated to the TPC value of the extracts (R=0.991). The pulp and seed extracted at 100°C/15 minutes showed the highest FRAP value among its groups (216.17 ± 14.06 μmol (Fe)/g and 659.74 ± 16.40 μmol (Fe)/ g respectively). This study indicates that tamarind pulp and seed extracts possess beneficial antioxidant properties and the optimum extraction parameter is 100°C for 15 minutes. In Artemia salina lethality test, tamarind pulp caused significant mortality of the crustacean larvae with LC50 in the range of 26-28 μL/mL. Tamarind seed were not toxic to Artemia salina since the LC50 of the extracts was higher than 1000 μL/mL.

Introduction: Hypercholesterolemia is the major cause of cardiovascular disturbances. The influence of Tinospora crispa on atherosclerotic plaque formation in rabbits fed with high cholesterol diet was investigated. Methods: Thirty male New Zealand White rabbits were divided into 6 groups. The negative control (NC) and positive control (PC) groups were used as a negative and positive (0.5% cholesterol) control. The simvastatin control (SC) group was given a high cholesterol diet (HCD) with 5mg/kg simvastatin. Treatment groups T150 and T450 were given HCD with supplementation of 150,300 and 450mg/kg of T.crispa extract respectively for 10 weeks. Blood was collected from ear vein for plasma analysis while the aortas were excised and examined microscopically. Results: Comparison within groups showed that PC, T300 and T450 had a significant increase (p<0.05) in total cholesterol level throughout the study. The groups supplemented with T.crispa (T150, T300 and T450) were significantly higher (p<0.05) in high density lipoprotein (HDL) level by 10.7-fold, significantly higher (p<0.05) in total antioxidant activity and had a significantly lower (p<0.05) LDL level compared to PC at week 10. At week 10, T450 had significantly highest (p<0.05) glutathione peroxidase and superoxide dismutase levels compared to PC. No foam cell formation was visible in the aorta of rabbits,in groups NC,SC and T450. However , there was visible foam cell formation in the aorta of groups PC, T150 and T300. Conclusion: This study suggest that supplementation of 450mg/kg of T.crispa extract would be able to reduce or retard the progression of atherosclerotic plaque development induced by dietary cholesterol.

The antioxidant and anti-proliferative activity of the aqueous crude extract of Tinospora crispa stem was investigated. The proximate composition of its stem and leaves was determined. Proximate analysis revealed that T. crispa contains - protein: leaves = 4.7%, stem = 1.2%; fat: leaves = 1.5%, stem = 0.43%; carbohydrate: leaves = 11.8%, stem = 19.4%; ash: leaves = 2.7%, stem = 1.1%; moisture: leaves = 79.3%, stem = 77.9%; fibre: leaves = 1.59%, stem = 0.65%; and energy: leaves = 1.59%, stem = 0.65%. The antioxidant activity of the extract prepared at various temperatures and incubation time was evaluated to determine the optimum extraction procedure. Based on DPPH and TBA tests, the preparation of the extract at 60oC for 6 hours was established as the best possible method as it demonstrated the highest inhibition percentage. The extract was tested against brine shrimp to evaluate its toxicity and no significant toxicity was recorded since the IC50 value was more than 1000 μg/ml. The extract produced moderate anti-proliferative activity on selected human cancer cell lines (IC50 MCF-7: 107 μg/ml, HeLa: 165 μg/ml, Caov-3: 100 μg/ml, and HepG2: 165 μg/ml). The findings from this study suggest that T. crispa has the potential to be a source of natural antioxidants and nutrients, besides having a moderate anti-proliferative effect on selected human cancer cell lines.