Attenuation of hyperlipidemia in diabetic and Triton x-100 induced hyperlipidemic rats by Thymus daenensis Celak extract

Hyperlipidemia is one of the vital complications in diabetes. The leaves of Thymus daenensis Celak are being widely used to reduce hyperlipidemia in Persian folk medicine. Present study is based upon the investigation of total phenol content and antioxidant activity of Thymus daenensis Celak extract (Td) as well as the effect of Td on some biochemical parameters (glucose, total cholesterol, HDL, LDL and Triglyceride level) in normal, streptozotocin-induced (STZ-induced) and Triton x-100 induced hyperlipidemic male Sprague Dawley rats. Moreover, synergic effect of this extract with atorvastatin was evaluated in mentioned groups. Animals were divided into five groups: healthy control group (sham), diabetic and hyperlipidemic control group (STZ+ Tri), diabetic and hyperlipidemic groups treated with Td extract (Ex 1000); diabetic and hyperlipidemic groups treated with atorvastatin (Ator 10), diabetic and hyperlipidemic groups treated with Td extract + atorvastatin (Ex 1000 + Ator 10). Treatment of diabetic rats with Td (1000 mg/kg) significantly decreased glucose, total cholesterol, triglyceride and LDL level as compared with the diabetic hyperlipidemic control group. Nevertheless, there were no synergistic effects between Td and atorvastatin on reducing lipid indications. The total phenol content of Td was 76 mg/g and the result of nitric oxide radical scavenging assay showed IC50 of 451.14±44.4 and 486.94±8.91 μg/ml for Td and ascorbic acid respectively. The results from this study indicate that Td is a potent antioxidant and hypoallergenic, which may be proper to prevent coronary heart disease in diabetes in future clinical studies.