Hyperlipidemia: Its Management and Induction

In the present review an attempt has been made to explore and study the various in vitro animal models used for the evaluation of hypolipidemic and antihyperlipidemic drugs. Hyperlipidemia has been ranked as one of the greatest risk factors contributing to the prevalence and severity of coronary heart disease. The main aim of treatment in patients with hyperlipidemia is to reduce the risk of the occurrence of cardiovascular or cerebrovascular disease. The present review throws a light on the various herbal drugs used as potential hypolipidemics and antihyperlipidemics. Emphasis has been laid on the study of animal models used in the evaluation and screening of antihyperlipidemic drugs. The review also encompasses the various treatments used for the management of hyperlipidemia. INTRODUCTION: Human health is one of the most important issues that have been addressed in the past and present. Currently, modern medicine, chemistry, biochemistry and pharmacology are trying to prevent, diagnose, treat and understand the reasons, mechanisms and pathways of disorders in the normal function of human body. Herbal medicine is still the mainstay of about 75-80% of the world population, mainly in the developing countries, for primary health care because of better cultural acceptability, better compatibility with the human body and lesser side effects 1 . There are several areas wherein plant derived drugs are used. Some of them have antiprotozoal activity like quinine from Cinchona, berberine from Berberis, harmaline from Peganum, artemisin from Artemesia. QUICK RESPONSE CODE DOI: 10.13040/IJPSR.0975-8232.5(8).3152-56 Article can be accessed online on: www.ijpsr.com DOI link: http://dx.doi.org/10.13040/IJPSR.0975-8232.5(8).3152-56 Allicin from garlic is antifingal, ricin from castor is specific immunotoxin against protozoa and liquorice is used in cleansing inflammed stomach. Oleanolic acid, sericic acid, quillia saponins and nimbidine from the seed oil of Azadirchta indica, catechin from Acacia catechu and lapachol from common teak have antiulcer activity. Colenol from Coleus forskohli is a hypotensive drug 2 . Plant products are frequently considered to be less toxic and freer from side effects than synthetic ones. Plants play a major role in the introduction of new therapeutic agents and have received much attention as sources of biologically active substances including antioxidants, hypoglycemics and hypolipidemics. Lipids play an important, but not an exclusive role in development and progression of atherosclerosis. In some persons, lipids will be a major factor, and in some, lipids play a minor role 3 . Hyperlipidemia has been ranked as one of the greatest risk factors contributing to the prevalence and severity of coronary heart disease 4 .