Evaluation of In vitro Antioxidant and In vivo Antihyperlipidemic Activities of Methanol Extract of Aerial Part of Crassocephalum crepidioides (Asteraceae) Benth S Moore

Purpose: To evaluate the antioxidant and antihyperlipidemic activities of the methanol extract of aerial part of Crassocephalum crepidioides (Asteraceae) Benth. S. Moore. Methods: The methanol extract of Crassocephalum crepidioides was prepared by organic solvent extraction (Maceration) and assessed for in vitro antioxidant activity using various methods, namely, 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging assay, total phenol and flavonoid content and reducing capacity. The extract was also evaluated for antihyperlipidemic activity in high-fat diet and triton WR-100 (iso-octyl polyoxyethylene phenol)-induced hyperlipidemic albino rats by evaluating serum total cholesterol (TC), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-c), triglycerides (TG), very low density lipoprotein cholesterol (VLDL-c), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-c) level and atherogenic index (AI). Results: The plant extract showed significant antioxidant activity in a dose-dependent manner. In high-fat diet hyperlipedemic rats, the extract significantly reduced (p < 0.01 or 0.001) serum TC, TG, LDL-c and VLDL-c levels, but significantly increased (p < 0.05) serum HDL-c level. In triton-induced hyperlipidemic rats, the extract significantly reduced (p < 0.05, p < 0.01, p < 0.001) serum TC, TG, LDL-c, VLDL-c levels but significantly increased (p < 0.05) serum HDL-c level. The extract showed significant reduction (p < 0.01) in AI at 300 mg /kg/day dose in both high fat-induced (1.70 +/- 0.25) and tritoninduced (1.5 +/- 0.17) hyperlipidemic albino rats. Conclusion: Based on these findings, the extract of Crassocephalum crepidioides aids in lowering hyperlipidemia in rats. This is probably due to its antioxidant activity.