Comparative Study of Hypolipidemic Effects of Momordica Charantia ( karela ) with Atorvastatin in Fat Fed Rats

Background: Disorders of lipid metabolism are manifested by elevation of the plasma concentration of the various lipid and lipoprotein fractions and the result, predominantly cardiovascular diseases. Lipid research clinic’s coronary primary prevention trial has provided useful information on the reduction of plasma cholesterol level in hyperlipidemic subjects by diet and drug therapy and thus the reduction in risk of myocardial infarction and death. Conventional lipid lowering drugs are used for lowering lipid level. But in the last few years’ herbal drugs are gaining popularity in the management of hyperlipidemia. In this study we compare the hypolipidemic effect of Momordica Charantia (MC) with atorvastatin, a commonly used hypolipidemic drug. Methods: The present experimental study was done in the pharmacology department of Dhaka Medical College during the period of July, 2011 to June, 2012. For this study a total number of 30 Norwegian rats of either sex were selected. They were divided into 5 groups each comprises of 6 rats. In the experiment group A was given normal diet with high fatty diet (1.5 ml olive oil plus 1% cholesterol) which was control group and other experimental groups (B,C,D,) were allowed to feed a high fatty diet along with fresh juice of Momordica Charantia (in different doses) for 10 days. Another experimental group, E was given high fatty diet along with atorvastatin (0.14mg/kg/day) for 10 days. Rats were sacrificed on 11 day and blood was collected by cardiac puncture for estimation of serum lipid profile. Results: After administration of fatty diet in group A for 10 days, there was significant increased total cholesterol (TCL), low density lipoprotein (LDL) and triglyceride (TG) levels. Concomitant administration of fatty diet and fresh juice of MC (in different doses) daily for 10 days in group B,C,D reduced serum TCL, LDL and TG levels which was more significant in higher doses in comparison to atorvastatin given group E. Conclusion: The present study provides a rationale for use a new herbal medicine much needed for the reduction of serum lipid levels. Momordica Charantia could be useful in hyperlipidemic conditions. They are as effective as a standard lipid lowering agentatorvastatin. DOI : 10.14302/issn. 2576-9383.jhhr-17-1816 Corresponding author: Abu Syed Md. Mosaddek,Department of Pharmacology, Uttara Adhunik Medical College, Dhaka, Bangladesh, Email: Drmosaddek25@gmail.com Key wordsMomordica Charantia, Total cholesterol, Low density lipoprotein, High density lipoprotein, Triglyceride. Received: Oct 16,2017 Accepted: Nov 05,2017 Published: Nov 11,2017 Freely Available Online www.openaccesspub.org | JHHR CC-license DOI : 10.14302/issn. 2576-9383.jhhr-17-1816 Vol-1 Issue 1 Pg. no. 12 Introduction: Disorders of lipid metabolism are manifested by elevation of the plasma concentration of the various lipid and lipoprotein fractions (total cholesterol, low density lipoprotein, very low density lipoprotein and triglyceride) and they result predominantly cardiovascular diseases. Coronary heart disease is the commonest form of heart disease and the single most important cause of premature death in the developed world. The death rates from CHD in the United Kingdom are among the highest in the world. Unfortunately the incidence of the condition is increasing rapidly in Eastern Europe and many developing countries like Bangladesh. Lipid research clinic’s coronary primary prevention trial has provided useful information on the reduction of plasma cholesterol level in hyperlipidemic subjects by diet and drug therapy and thus the reduction in risk of myocardial infarction and death. Reductase inhibitor, niacin, fibrate are the drugs used for lowering the lipid level. But these drugs are costly and toxic. Therefore studies are still going on in search of more potent, less toxic, cheaper and easily available hypolipidemic agent. Plants have been used as source of medicine throughout human history and they continue to serve as the basis for many pharmaceuticals used today. So many research works have been done on various herbal agents such as Momordica Charantia (karela), garlic oil, onion, chatharanthus roseus, etc. Among these we choose Momordica Charantia to compare its hypolipidemic effects with that of atorvastatin. Momordica Charantia is called bitter melon, bitter gourd in English, is a tropical and subtropical vine of the family cucurbitaceae, widely grown in Asia, Africa and the Caribbean. It is commonly known as karela in our country. In addition to culinary usage bitter melon is also used in folklore medicine. The seeds, fruits, leaves and root of the plant have been used in traditional medicine for microbial infections, sluggish digestion and intestinal gas, menstrual stimulation, wound healing and inflammation. Documentation has found that Momordica Charantia possess blood glucose lowering effect, hypolipidemic effect,antiviral effect, anti helminthic ,antioxidantand anticancer effect. The recent research focus has shifted to explore the hypolipidemic effect of Momordica Charantia in comparison to atorvastatin, a hypolipidemic drug. Materials and Methods: A total number of 30 Norwegian rats of either sex and weighting 150-200g were selected for the experimental study performed in pharmacology department of Dhaka Medical College (DMC) from July, 2011 to June, 2012. They were divided into 5 groups with each group comprising of 6 rats. They were treated for 10 days and sacrificed on 11 day. Preparation of Momordica Charantia Juice Fresh fruits were bought from the local market. Fruits were authenticated from National Herbarium, Mirpur, Dhaka. The DACB accession number is 36525. The fruits were crushed through a shell and mortar. After removal of the seeds the juice were filtered through fine cloths to remove debris.

Plants have been used as source of medicine throughout human history and they continue to serve as the basis for many pharmaceuticals used today 4 .So many research works have been done on various herbal agents such as Momordica Charantia (karela), garlic oil, onion, chatharanthus roseus, etc 5 .Among these we choose Momordica Charantia to compare its hypolipidemic effects with that of atorvastatin.
Momordica Charantia is called bitter melon, bitter gourd in English, is a tropical and subtropical vine of the family cucurbitaceae, widely grown in Asia, Africa and the Caribbean.It is commonly known as karela in our country 6 .In addition to culinary usage bitter melon is also used in folklore medicine.The seeds, fruits, leaves and root of the plant have been used in traditional medicine for microbial infections, sluggish digestion and intestinal gas, menstrual stimulation, wound healing and inflammation 7 .Documentation has found that Momordica Charantia possess blood glucose lowering effect 8,9 , hypolipidemic effect 10 ,antiviral effect 11 , anti helminthic 12 ,antioxidant 13 and anticancer effect 14 .The recent research focus has shifted to explore the hypolipidemic effect of Momordica Charantia in comparison to atorvastatin, a hypolipidemic drug.

Materials and Methods:
A total number of 30 Norwegian rats of either sex and weighting 150-200g were selected for the experimental study performed in pharmacology department of Dhaka Medical College (DMC) from July, 2011 to June, 2012.
They were divided into 5 groups with each group comprising of 6 rats.They were treated for 10 days and sacrificed on 11 th day.

Preparation of Momordica Charantia Juice
Fresh fruits were bought from the local market.
Fruits were authenticated from National Herbarium, Mirpur, Dhaka.The DACB accession number is 36525.
The fruits were crushed through a shell and mortar.
After removal of the seeds the juice were filtered through fine cloths to remove debris.

Procedure:
In the experiment, 30 rats were equally divided into group A, B, C, D, E. Group A served as fat fed control group who received normal diet and fatty diet (1.5 ml olive oil plus 1% cholesterol 15 ) for 10 days.
Group B, C, D served as fat fed experimental group where they received fatty diet along with fresh juice of Momordica Charantia for 10 days at different doses.
Group B received 0.5 ml/kg MC juice, group C received 1.0 ml/kg MC juice and group D received 1.5 ml/kg MC juice per day.Group E is the fat fed experimental group which received fatty diet along with atorvastatin (0.14mg/kg/day).After treating those for 10 days rats were sacrificed on the 11 th day and blood was collected by cardiac puncture for estimation of serum lipid profile.
The doses were adjusted according to previous work 16 .

Measurements
Sera were obtained.Subsequently, serum total cholesterol, HDL, LDL and triglyceride levels were measured by enzymatic colorimetric method in the department of pharmacology and therapeutics, Dhaka Medical College, using lipid profile kits.

Data Collection and Analysis
All relevant information of each rat was recorded in a predesigned data collection sheet.
Collected data were screened, complied and  significantly (P <0.05) 17 .In another study they demonstrated hyperlipidemia in adult long evans rats by administering 1.5 ml olive oil and 1% cholesterol for 10 days.They showed that fatty diet increased total serum cholesterol, LDL and VLDL significantly (P< 0.001) 15 .
In this study concomitant administration of fresh juice of Momordica Charantia and fatty diet (olive oil plus cholesterol) daily orally for 10 days reduced serum TCL, LDL and TG levels.The reduction was highly significant in comparison to hyperlipidemic control group, which was best observed at the higher doses (1.0 ml/kg/day and 1.

Conclusion:
In present study we compared the hypolipidemic effects of M.Charantia with a standard known hypolipidemic agent atorvastatin.Thus it could be useful in hyperlipidemic conditions.Purpose of this study is to introduce herbal agents instead of costly and toxic drugs.But before stablising M.Charantia juice as a therapeutically effective hypolipidemic agent, further studied should be carried out to determine the active principles responsible for hypolipidemic effect and its cellular mechanism of action.

and they result predominantly cardiovascular diseases 1 .
Disorders of lipid metabolism are manifested by elevation of the plasma concentration of the various lipid and lipoprotein fractions (total cholesterol, low density lipoprotein, very low density lipoprotein and triglyceride) Coronary heart disease is the commonest form of heart disease and the single most important cause of premature death in the developed world.The death rates from CHD in the United Kingdom are among the highest in the world.Unfortunately the incidence of the condition is increasing rapidly in Eastern Europe and many developing countries like Bangladesh 2 .Lipid research clinic's coronary primary prevention trial has provided useful information on the reduction of plasma cholesterol level in hyperlipidemic subjects by diet and drug therapy and thus the reduction in risk of myocardial infarction and death 3 .Reductase inhibitor, niacin, fibrate are the drugs used for lowering the lipid level.But these drugs are costly and toxic.Therefore studies are still going on in search of more potent, less toxic, cheaper and easily available hypolipidemic agent.
The present study was carried out to evaluate the effect of Momordica Charantia on serum lipid levels in comparison to atorvastatin.In the present work hyperlipidemia was induced in rats by administration of 1.5 ml olive oil with 1% cholesterol for 10 days.The hyperlipidemia was evidenced by significant increase in serum TCL, LDL and TG levels.Similar observations were made by a number of researchers, who demonstrated hyperlipidemia by administering 1.5 ml olive oil solution containing vitamin D 3 and cholesterol for consecutive 5 days.In their studies they got the similar results.Serum TCL, LDL and TG levels increased

Figure :
Figure: Bar diagram showing serum lipid levels in different groups of rats