Title: An <i>in vivo</i> Evaluation of Antihyperlipidaemic Activity of Ethanolic Extract of <i>Amaranthus spinosus</i> Leaves on Dexamethasone Induced Hyperlipidaemic Rats
Abstract: Natural products derived from plants play a vital part in preventing or treating various diseases or disorders in humans. Hyperlipidemia is one of the main pathological features of diseases affecting the circulatory system and diabetes mellitus. Presently available lipid-lowering drugs have been linked with some side effects. Herbal treatment for hyperlipidaemia has significantly fewer or no side effects and is reasonably inexpensive and locally accessible. <i>Amaranthus spinosus</i> belongs to the family <i>Amaranthaceae</i> is well known by many researchers for its various medicinal properties and is also known as "pigweed." The present study sought to assess the antihyperlipidaemic activity of the leaf extract by in vivo animal models. Here, acute hyperlipidemia was induced by intraperitoneal administration of dexamethasone (10 mgkg<sup>-1</sup>). The ethanol extract of <i>A. spinosus</i> leaf (EEASL) was administered daily at single doses of 250 and 500 mgkg-1, to dexamethasone-induced hyperlipidaemic rats for 8 days. The effect of EEASL on serum lipid profiles (total cholesterol, triglycerides low-density, very low-density, and high-density lipoprotein) were determined. EEASL was established to significantly decrease total serum cholesterol, triglycerides, low-density lipoprotein, Very low-density lipoprotein, and increased serum high-density lipoprotein compared to the hyperlipidaemic and vehicle only control models. The activities were also paralleled to the outcome exhibited by a standard antihyperlipidaemic agent, atorvastatin. The present investigation established pharmacological evidence to support the claim that EEASL contains active antihyperlipidaemic agents.