The effects of Rheum Ribes on serum lipids in hyperlipidemic Rabbit

Introduction: Coronary heart disease (CHD) is the major cause of morbidity and mortality both in industrial and developing countries. Hypercholesterolemia is the main primary contributory factor for CHD, and also there are reports that triglycerid rich lipoproleins directly or indirectly are atherogenic. In all subjects with one or more CHD risk factors in whom risk reduction is recommended non- drug therapy is a valid treatment regimen. The present study investigates the effects of ethanolic and aqueous extracts of rheum ribes (RR) of the family polygonacea on lipid concentrations in hypothyroid rabbits. Materials and methods: To induce hypothyroidism and hyperlipidemia, 0.05% (w/w) methimazol powder was given in drinking water to rabbits with 2 ± 0.3 kg weight, throughout the experiment. Hypothyroid animals were divided into 5 groups and treated with different regimens for 18 days as following: group A was received daily 10-15 ml of distilled water (D.W) orally group B as positive control was received 570 mg of nicotinic acid powder in D.W orally/ day groups C and D were received daily 4 g/kg B.W orally of aqueous and ethanolic extracts respectively and finally group E was received 6 g/kg.B.W ethanolic extract in D.W/day (this group was not concidered in results). Blood samples were taken by the end of day 10 & 18 and serum cholesterol and triglycerid were determined by enzymatic routin laboratory methods. Results: Aqueous extract of RR vs D.W decreased serum cholesterol by the end of day 10 & 18 by 56.34% and 84.87% (P