Evaluation of Hypolipidemic and Hepatoprotective Effects of Linum usitatissimum L. Seeds on Hypercholesterolemic Rats

Background: Hyperlipidaemia is a chronic progressive disease, which encompasses various genetic and acquired conditions resulting in inappropriately elevated lipid levels in humans. Several preclinical and clinical studies have demonstrated that dietary supplementation with Linum Usitatissimum have beneficial cardiovascular effects like antihypertensive action, antiatherogenic effects, lowering of cholesterol, anti-inflammatory action and inhibition of arrhythmia. There are few studies on hepatoprotective effects of flax seeds in hyperlipidemic animal models. Aim and objectives: Hence, this study was undertaken to evaluate the hypolipidemic and hepatoprotective effect of Linum seeds.

Methods: The study was conducted for the period of two months in Department of Pharmacology KIMS, Bhubaneswar. Total 36 Albino wistar rats were taken and divided into 6 groups containing 6 rats each. Group II was hypercholesterolemic (HC) control, Group III was treatment control and Group IV to VI rats were given different doses of extract. Blood samples were taken at the end of two months.

Results: All the values are expressed as Mean±SD (standard deviation). Significant decrease in lipid parameters and liver enzymes is seen at the end of two months in all 3 groups receiving the extract, where the highest dose of extract used, is near to the standard drug.

Conclusion: From this study, it can be concluded that the addition of the flaxseeds to the diet may alleviate the rise in circulating cholesterol levels induced by the high cholesterol diet through its content of alfa-linolenic acid (ALA) and lignins. The hepatoprotective role of flaxseed in hypercholesterolaemia has also been demonstrated in this this study.