Evaluation of cardioprotective and antihyperlipidemic effects of vernonia elaeagnifolia in wistar rats

Ischemic heart disease is the most prevalent cause of myocardial infarction, a leading cause of mortality worldwide. Hyperlipidemia is a condition of abnormalincrease inserum LDL, cholesterol and triglycerides levels. The main aim of the current study is to assess the cardioprotective, anti-hyperlipidemic, and anti-oxidant properties of Vernoniaelaeagnifolia's methanolic extract. In vivo evaluation of cardioprotective activity of the methanolic extract of Vernoniaelaeagnifolia was carried out using Aluminium chloride induced cardiotoxicity and Isoprotrenol induced Myocardial Infarction models and anti-hyperlipidemic activity of the methanolic extract of Vernoniaelaeagnifolia was carried out using Triton induced hyperlipidemia model. The preliminary phytochemical screening and GC-MS investigation identified triterpenoids, phytosterols, phenols, fatty acids, and flavonoids. The IC50 values of the test extract were 22.09 µg/mL and 21.78 µg/mL, respectively, in the H2O2 radical scavenging and reducing power assays. AST, ALT, ALP, and lipid profile were elevated due to the induction of isoproterenol and aluminium chloride and significantly decreased by the administration of methanolic extract of Vernoniaelaeagnifoliaat doses of 200 mg/kg and 400 mg/kg and standard (10 mg/kg). Histological observations revealed that rats treated with test extract demonstrated significantly less inflammatory cell infiltration and normal cardiac muscle fibres in isoproterenol-induced myocardial infarction.In Triton-X-100-induced hyperlipidemia, the extract markedly decreased the levels of lipids (Total cholesterol, triglycerides, LDL, and VLDL) and increased the levels of HDL. The presence of terpenoids, phytosterols, phenols, fatty acids, and flavonoids might be responsible for cardioprotective, anti-hyperlipidemic, and antioxidant activities.