Anti-Oxidant Activity of Enalapril maleate in Hypercholesterolemic Rabbits

Abstract

The present study was to evaluate the anti-oxidant activity of Enalapril maleate in hypercholesterolemic rabbits, which developed atherosclerosis. Enalapril maleate is a class of Angiotensin Converting Enzyme Inhibitors. Normal healthy rabbits of either sex were divided in three groups. Each group contained twenty–five animals, all of which received commercial diet and water ad-libitum throughout the experimental period. The experiment was carried for a period of sixteen weeks. Group I animals received normal saline (5 ml/kg P.O) for a period of sixteen weeks. Group II received 500 mg cholesterol in 5 ml starch mucilage P.O daily for 16 weeks- hypercholesterolemic group. Group III received 500 mg cholesterol suspended in 5 ml starch mucilage and Enalapril maleate (10 mg/kg b.w PO daily) for 16 weeks. Various biochemical estimations like total serum cholesterol, serum HDL cholesterol levels, TBARS (Thiobarbituric acid reactive substances), glutathione, catalase were estimated. Results showed that decrease in total serum cholesterol levels, TBARS levels and increase in HDL cholesterol levels can play a part in anti-atherosclerotic action of Enalapril maleate. Catalase and glutathione which detoxify free radicals are not involved in the anti-atherosclerotic effect of the drug.