RESUMO
Hypolipidemic and antihyperlipidemic effect from an aqueous extract Pachyptera hymenaea were studied and volatile constituents from the extract were analysed by GC-MS. Extract was administered to normal and diet-induced hypercholestrolemic rats for 28days and serum lipid profiles were estimated. An oral dose, at 200mg/kg/day, resulted in significant declines in plasma LDL-cholesterol, triglycerides (TG) and total cholesterol (TC) by 44.0%, 27.9% and 28.1% respectively, compared to normal rats. An extract at 400mg/kg/day, to hypercholestremic rats, resulted in significant declines in plasma TC, LDL-cholesterol and TG, by 66.1%, 60.0% and 57.6% respectively, compared to a hypercholestremic control. GC-MS study of the volatile oil revealed the presence of two main organosulphur compounds, diallyldisulphide (65.9%, v/v) and diallyltrisulphide (29.6%, v/v). Evidently the extract possesses pronounced hypolipidemic and antihyperlipidemic effects which are comparable to those of atorvastatin. These effects are due to the presence of organosulphur compounds, flavonoids and polyphenols present in the extract.