Hypolipidemic effect of Aegle marmelos leaf extract in streptozotocin (STZ) induced diabetic male albino rats.

Aegle marmelos (vilvam in Tamil) leaves are used extensively in the indigenous system of medicine as an anti-diabetic agent. The current investigation focuses on the lipid lowering property of an aqueous extract of Aegle marmelos leaves on streptozotocin (STZ) induced diabetic rats. The lipid profiles such as serum total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TG), low density lipoprotein (LDL), high density lipoprotein (HDL), and very low density lipoprotein (VLDL) were studied. Extracts were administered orally at increasing dose levels of 250mg, 350mg, 450mg/kg body wt., to STZ induced diabetic rats. The levels of TC, TG, LDL, HDL, and VLDL were found to be reduced significantly (P<0.001) when compared to that of diabetic control rats. These results further suggest that Aegle marmelos may be useful in the therapy and management of hyperlipidemia by reducing lipid levels.