Effect of a nature-derived combination of Ananas comosus and Bambusa bambos (L.) in hyperlipidemic experimental animals

Abstract

Hyperlipidemia is an independent modifiable risk factor of cardiovascular diseases which remains the leading cause of disease burden for healthcare systems worldwide. Traditional medicine formulas have a long history of use in Asia for hyperlipidemia treatment. This study aimed to evaluate the potential efficacy of a herbal combination of Ananas comosus and Bambusa bambos (L.), named "Cao dua tre Lao nha que" (CDT), on hyperlipidemic animal models of two pathways. In poloxamer-407 (P-407)-induced model, mice were pre-treated with CDT before intraperitoneal injection of P-407; in the dietary model, rats were orally administered a cholesterol mixture and CDT for 4 consecutive weeks. Results indicated that CDT (0.6 and 1.2 g/kg b.w.) significantly reduced total cholesterol (TC) (from 4.11±0.95 to 3.05±0.60 and 2.93±0.67 mmol/L, respectively) and triglycerides (TG) (from 1.40±0.27 to 1.02±0.20 and 1.13±0.31 mmol/L) in the dietary model; in P-407-induced model, CDT significantly reduced TG (from 5.8±1.52 to 4.84±0.95 and 4.76±0.55 mmol/L, respectively) and TC (from 6.09±1.36 to 4.42±1.14 and 4.53±1.15 mmol/L) compared to untreated hyperlipidemic controls. CDT improved the serum lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) levels (from 748.50±120.79 to 475.30±109.53 and 534.30±127.74 U/L) and ameliorated the elevated serum levels of aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) in the cholesterol-induced hyperlipidemic rats, suggesting hepatoprotective effects. No dose-dependent relationship was observed. In conclusion, CDT demonstrated efficacy in hyperlipidemia treatment by improving lipid profiles and offering hepatoprotection, highlighting its potential to serve as a promising adjunctive therapy for hyperlipidemia and related disorders.