Lipid Lowering Efficacy of Pennisetum glaucum Bran in Hyperlipidemic Albino Rats

The objective of the study was to determine lipid lowering efficacy of Pennisetum (P) glaucum (Pearl millet, locally known as bajra), bran in hyperlipidemia albino rats. Simvastatin, (Tablet survive®), was used as cholesterol lowering synthetic drug. The period of 0-15 days was considered as a lead-in period to induce hyperlipidemia with atherogenic diet in albino rats. P. glaucum bran at dose rate of 2, 4 and 6 g/kg BW showed lipid lowering efficacy in hyperlipidemic rats at posttreatment days 30, 45 and 60. At the level of 6 g/kg, P. glaucum bran was able to produce a significant (P 0.05) increase in HDL- cholesterol (47%) and fall in other lipid profile parameters i.e. total lipids (41%), triglycerides 48%), total cholesterol (39%) and LDL- cholesterol (55%). P. glaucum 6 g/kg also reduced total cholesterol in liver tissue and increased fecal bile acid secretion. The results of present study suggest that 6 g/kg P. glaucum bran and 0.6 mg/kg Simvastatin were equally effective in treating hyperlipidemia in albino rats. Moreover, the potency of P. glaucum for stimulating fecal bile acid secretion in albino rats may safely be conceived, at least, as a part of mechanisms for its antihyperlipidemic efficacy.