Asparagus racemosus Linn. Potentiates the Hypolipidemic and Hepatoprotective Activity of Fenofibrate in Alloxan-Induced Diabetic Rats

Diabetes mellitus is strongly connected with changes in lipid profile and also can cause damage of several organs like liver over a long period of time. The purpose of this study was designed to evaluate the hypolipidemic and hepatoprotective effects of ethanolic root extracts of Asparagus racemosus (EEAR) Linn. alone and in combination with a lipid lowering agent (fenofibrate) in alloxan-induced diabetic rats. Diabetes was induced in male Wister albino rats by the administration of single intra-peritoneal injection of alloxan monohydrate (120 mg/kg b.w.). Two different doses of EEAR (200 and 400 mg/kg b.w.) alone, fenofibrate (30 mg/kg b.w.) and a combination of EEAR (200 mg/kg b.w.) with fenofibrate (30 mg/kg b.w.) were administered orally for the period of 14 days. After the treatment period, hypolipidemic and hepatoprotective effects were determined by examining serum biochemical markers including total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG), low density lipoprotein (LDL), very low density lipoprotein (VLDL), high density lipoprotein (HDL), serum glutamate oxaloacetate transaminases (SGOT), serum glutamate pyruvate transaminases (SGPT) and total protein (TP) with the aid of commercially available kits. The survival rate, body weight and organ weight were also measured. The ingestion of EEAR considerably (p < 0.05, p < 0.01, p < 0.001; p < 0.05, p < 0.01) modified the activity of TC, TG, LDL, VLDL and HDL cholesterol levels when compared to the disease control and fenofibrate treated rats. The administration of combination therapy significantly (p < 0.001; p < 0.001) improved the activity of TC, TG, LDL, VLDL and HDL levels when compared to that of disease control and fenofibrate treated rats. The rats treated with EEAR markedly (p < 0.05, p < 0.01, p < 0.001; p < 0.05) reduced the level of SGOT, SGPT and TP as compared to the disease control and fenofibrate treated rats. The suggested combination therapy significantly (p < 0.001; p < 0.001) decreased the level of SGOT, SGPT and TP when compared to that of disease control and fenofibrate treated rats indicated amelioration in liver dysfunctions. The maximum survival rate was 100% found in combination therapy. During treatment period, it was observed that the considerable (p < 0.01, p < 0.001; p < 0.05, p < 0.01, p < 0.001) changes in the body weight were found in the EEAR treated rats and combination therapy on 10 th and 14 th day as compared to that of disease control and fenofibrate treated rats. In case of organs weight, the weight of the liver and weight of the pancreas were significantly (p < 0.001; p < 0.05, p < 0.01, p < 0.001) decreased in the rats treated with highest dose of EEAR (Alx+ EEAR 400) and combination therapy when compared to the disease control and fenofibrate treated rats. The current study demonstrates that combination therapy of EEAR and fenofibrate was more effective than that of monotherapy in controlling diabetes mellitus associated with cardiovascular diseases and hepatic dysfunction in alloxan-induced diabetic rats.