Effect of Hydroalcoholic Extract of Hypericum Perforatum L. on Risk Factors Causing Atherosclerosis in Rabbits Receiving Atherogenic Diet

Treatment and suppression of atherosclerotic lesions is a fundamental goal in atherosclerosis patients. Antioxidants and hypolipidemic agents suppress the development of atherosclerosis. The objective of this study was to determine the effect of Hypericum perforatum L. on treatment of atherosclerosis in hypercholesterolemic rabbits. Twenty rabbits were assigned to four groups: group I (normal diet for 75 days); group II (1% cholesterol diet for 75 days); groups III and IV (1% cholesterol diet for 45 days). Thereafter, group III received the normal diet for additional 30 days, while group IV received normal diet plus H. perforatum (150 mg/kg.bw) for an additional 30 days (regression period). Blood samples were collected from rabbits on days 0, 45 and 75 days. At the end of the study, serum biochemical factors (apoB, MDA, OX-LDL) decreased in groups III and ΙV. However, the serum biochemical factors were more decreased in groups IV compared to the group III in regression period. The results suggest that polyphenolic substances derived from H. perforatum may contribute to a reduction in serum biochemical factors and subsequently regression of the atherosclerosis.