Lipids and cholesterol esterifying enzyme changes by Anna Pavala Sindhooram therapy in experimental rat hyperlipaemia

Role of Sulphated Polysaccharides from Sargassum Wightii in the Control of Diet-Induced Hyperlipidemia and Associated Inflammatory Complications in Rats

Hypercholesterolemia and associated cardiovascular complications continue to occur in a great number of people. However, certain coastal populations have lower incidence of cardiovascular and other diseases, which may be attributed to regular intake of seaweeds in their diet. Seaweeds contain sulphated polysaccharides (SPS) which demonstrate a wide spectrum of biomedical properties and are phytochemical analogues of mammalian heparin sulphate. This knowledge served as the major impetus for exploring the therapeutic potential of SPS from the brown algae Sargassum wightii and SPS from Fucus vesiculosus in experimental rats against diet-induced hyperlipidemia and associated inflammatory complications. Adult male Wistar rats were divided into six groups with six rats in each. The control group (group I) was left untreated while group II rats were fed with a high cholesterol diet (CCT diet – normal rat chow with 4% cholesterol, 1% cholic acid and 0.5% thiouracil) for 14 days. Rats in groups III and IV received SPS from S. wightii (SW group) and SPS from F. vesiculosus (FV group) (5mg/kg b.wt/day, subcutaneously) during the last 7 days, respectively. Rats in groups V and VI were fed with a high cholesterol diet for 14 days and in addition were given SPS from S. wightii (CCT + SW group) and SPS from F. vesiculosus (CCT + FV group) at the weight of 5mg/kg b.wt/day, subcutaneously during the last 7 days, respectively. The adverse effects of hypercholesterolemia were evident from increased levels of serum lipid status and inflammatory complications manifested by augmented levels of plasma tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), C-reactive protein (CRP), fibrinogen, inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), nitric oxide (NO), cyclooxygenase (COX-2) and lysosomal enzymes. Treatment with algal SPS considerably restored the above abnormalities. SPS from S. wightii and SPS from F. vesiculosus were almost equally effective in mitigating hypercholesterolemia and related inflammatory complications.

Anna Pavala Sindhooram--an antiatherosclerotic Indian drug

The procedure for the preparation of Anna Pavala Sindhooram (APS), a drug based on the concepts of Indian medicine for the prevention and reversal of the atherosclerotic disease process is described in detail. The uniformity in the composition of samples of the drug obtained in 10 batches, prepared over a period of 5 years is evident from the chemical analysis of the mineral constituents. The possibility of iodine, copper, iron, calcium and magnesium present in the Anna Pavala Sindhooram, acting metabolically to reduce hypercholesterolemia is discussed. The ingredients used are green vitriol (Annabedi or ferrous sulphate), coral reef (Corallium rubrum or Pavalam), leaves of Acalypha indica (Kuppaimeni), Lippia nodiflora (Poduthalai), Vinca rosea (Nityakalyani), Lawsonia alba (maruthondri) and Cynodon dactylon (Arugampul) and the flowers of Hibiscus rosasinensis (Chemparathampoo) and the ripe fruits of Phyllanthus emblica (nellikkai). Sindhooram is the chief therapeutic form of herbo-mineral preparations used in the Sidha system of Indian medicine.