Effect of Punica Granatum Juice on Lipid Profile of Hypercholesterolemic Albino Rats

Objectives: The present study was performed to investigate the effect of Punica granatum juice in plasma level of Total cholesterol, Triglycerides, High density lipoprotein cholesterol, Low density lipoprotein cholesterol of Hypercholesterolemic Albino Rats. Result: The results revealed a significant increase (P. Value < 0.05) in plasma level of (TC, TG, HDL-c and LDL-c) at day 7. The levels of (TC, TG, HDL-c, and LDL-c) showed a significant decreased (P. Value < 0.05) after oral administration of Punica granatum juice and statin drug at days 14 and 21. Conclusion: It can be concluded that PJ can be a potent hypolipidemic agent. Material and Method: Hypercholesterolemia was inducted using cholesterol powder 5.5g/30 ml of Ghee (lipid formula) at a dose of 1 ml/kg b.wt, for one week. A total number of 56 rats were divided into 8 groups equally. All eight groups were fed on the normal diet and lipid formula for one week. These rats were distributed into groups A1, B1, C1 and D1 (stopped lipid formula after one week), A2, B2, C2 and D2 (continued lipid formula another two weeks). Groups A1, A2 represented positive control. Groups B1, B2 were administered 5 ml/kg b.wt of Punica granatum juice (PJ) orally for two weeks. Groups C1, C2 were administered 10 ml/kg b.wt of PJ orally for two weeks, while groups D1, D2 were administered 0.3 ml/kg b.wt of Atrovastatin orally for two weeks at a concentration of 20 mg/100 ml (for two weeks). Blood samples were collected from the RetroOrbital plexus of rats’ eyes at days 0, 7, 14 and 21 for determination of plasma level (TC, TG, HDL-c and LDL-c).