Pharmacological evaluation of the efficacy of Dysoxylum binectariferum stem bark and its active constituent rohitukine in regulation of dyslipidemia in rats

The antidyslipidemic effect of the ethanolic extract of Dysoxylum binectariferum stem bark and its major active constituent rohitukine was evaluated in a high fat diet (HFD)-fed dyslipidemic rat model. Chronic feeding of ethanolic extract (200 mg/kg) in HFD-fed rats showed significant lipid lowering activity. The bioassay guided fractionation of ethanolic extract resulted in the identification of known alkaloid rohitukine as major active constituent. Rohitukine (50 mg/kg) significantly decreased the plasma levels of total cholesterol (24 %), phospholipids (25 %), triglycerides (27 %), very low density lipoprotein (27 %) and low density lipoprotein (32 %) accompanied with an increase in high density lipoprotein (21 %). The present study demonstrated that ethanolic extract of Dysoxylum binectariferum stem bark and its major constituent rohitukine both have antidyslipidemic as well as antioxidant potentials. The antidyslipidemic activity of rohitukine can be correlated to its effect on enzymes involved in lipid metabolism.