Antiobesity effect of Iris versicolor and Holoptelea integrifolia in rats

Objective: The leaves of Holoptelea integrifolia are used in the treatment of diabetes and lipid disorders. The present study demonstrates the influence of the aqueous extract of leaves of Holoptelea integrifolia (HIAE) on the lipid profile in normal and Tyloxapol-induced hyperlipidemic rats. Materials and Methods: The vehicle, the aqueous extract of leaves of Holoptelea integrifolia (250 and 500 mg / kg), and fenofibrate, reference standard (65 mg / kg), were administered orally for seven days to different groups of normal and Tyloxapol-induced hyperlipidemic rats. The lipid profile was assessed on the eighth day by estimating the plasma levels of total cholesterol, triglycerides, HDL-c, LDL-c, VLDL-c, and the corresponding atherogenic index and the LDL-c/HDL-c ratio. Results: Administration of the HIAE neither caused any significant effect on the lipid profile in normolipidemic rats nor attenuated tyloxapol-induced hyperlipidemia. Conclusion: The present investigations revealed that the aqueous extract of the leaves of Holoptelea integrifolia did not exhibit a hypolipidemic effect and did not substantiate its traditional use in lipid disorders and obesity.