Evaluation of Antihyperlipidaemic Activity of Methanolic Extract of Cuminum cyminum L. Seeds in Diet Induced Hyperlipidaemic Rabbits

Objective: To evaluate antihyperlipidaemic activity of methanolic extract of seeds of Cuminum cyminum L. in hyperlipidaemia in rabbits. Methods: This study was conducted in Pharmacology Department of University of Karachi; the duration of study was 30 days. Healthy rabbits were taken and hyperlipidaemia was induced by giving high cholesterol diet for four weeks. All animals were divided into three groups, with each group having ten rabbits (n=10). The methanolic extract of seeds of Cuminum cminum L. was dissolved in an organic solvent DMSO (Dimethyl-sulphoxide). One group was control-receiving DMSO, while second group received methanolic extract of Cuminum cyminum L. (MECC) 500mg/kg and third group received Atorvastatin 2mg/kg. Blood samples were taken at 0, 15th and 30th day of dosing and sent for the tests to Punjwani Centre for Molecular medicine & Drug research (PCMD) Diagnostic Laboratory. Results: The group that was given methanolic extract of Cuminum Cyminum L. showed decrease in High Density Lipoprotein (HDL) - cholesterol ratio (7.62 +/- 4.01 to 4.45 +/- 3.23) (p<0.05), cholesterol (208.54 +/- 5.71 to 130.26 +/- 5.72) (p<0.01), triglyceride (158.75 +/- 5.23 to 136.14 +/- 8.72) (p<0.001) and Low Density Lipoprotein (LDL) (168.17 +/- 5.43 to 135.42 +/- 11.39) (p<0.001) and the group that was given Atorvastatin showed HDL-cholesterolratio(7.33 +/- 3.27 to 3.12 +/- 2.19) (p<0.01), cholesterol (208.11 +/- 6.72 to 98.75 +/- 3.77) (p<0.001), triglyceride (157.21 +/- 6.72 to 141.25 +/- 6.84) (p<0.01) and Low Density Lipoprotein (LDL) (167.25 +/- 4.32 to 127.67 +/- 10.96) (p<0.001) towards its normal levels from day 0 to 30th day of dosing on comparison to control, whereas triglycerides were significantly decreased by extract than atorvastatin. Conclusion: The result of this study showed methanolic extract of Cuminum cyminum L. possesses antihyperlipidaemic activity.