ABSTRACT:
The present study has been designed to investigate the influence of the hydroalcoholic pulp extract of Hippophae salicifolia on biological changes caused by aluminium. Hippophae salicifolia has been quoted to possess many medicinal properties which include immunomodulatory, anti-oxidant, anti-bacterial activity, and is used to treat coronary heart diseases, skin disorders and gastric ulcers. Repeated administration of the extract by oral route in Wistar albino rats has been found to cause no deleterious effect on general serum biochemical parameters like protein, glucose, urea, and Creatinine. Fluctuation in lipid parameters, analyzed in the present study, is suggestive of an influence on these parameters by aluminium as well as the extract of Hippophae salicifolia. While no significant change in serum total cholesterol, triglyceride, decreasing serum HDL cholesterol level was seen in the group treated with aluminium alone. In contrast, an increase in serum HDL level was seen after 14 – 21 days of treatment and this was also significantly greater when compared to control group. The observation of decreasing serum total cholesterol and LDL as well as increase in serum HDL after treatment with Hippophae salicifolia indicates that it may be useful in hyperlipidemic conditions. In addition to these, Hippophae salicifolia has also been found to suppress the impact of aluminium on serum total cholesterol level.