Antihyperlipidemic potential of a traditional siddha polyherbal formulation sugnil in streptozotocin - Induced diabetic rats

We investigated antihyperlipidemic potential of a traditional siddha polyherbal preparation SUGNIL from a combination of nine Indian medicinal plants. The current study was undertaken to assess the therapeutic effect of this formulation on lipid profile changes in streptozotocin (STZ) induced diabetic rats with a view of finding out its possible effect on reducing vascular complications associated with diabetes mellitus. Oral administration of the polyherbal extract SUGNIL at a dose of 100mg/kg body weight per day to STZ induced diabetic rats for a period of 45 days resulted in a significant reduction in plasma and tissue (liver and Kidney) cholesterol, triglycerides, phospholipids and free fatty acids. In addition, the decreased plasma levels of high density lipoprotein–cholesterol and increased plasma levels of low density lipoprotein–and very low density lipoprotein–cholesterol in diabetic rats were restored to near normal levels following treatment with the polyherbal extract SUGNIL. Moreover, our preliminary quantitative drug analysis revealed the presence of vitamins (Vit C & Vit E) and phytochemicals (Flavonoids, tannins and phenols) in SUGNIL at various proportions. Therefore, it may be concluded that the presence of various medicinal plants and their active principles possessing single or diverse range of biological activities hold promise in developing polyherbal drug SUGNIL as a preventive measure in treatment of vascular complications associated with lipid abnormalities in diabetes mellitus.