Pathophysiology of Metabolic Syndrome – Its Management by Ayurvedic Formulation

Abstract

Metabolic syndrome (Met S) is a disorder of energy and storage containing of risk factor for various complications such as Type 2 diabetes mellitus and cardio vascular disease. In Met S combined effect of atherogenic property, insulin resistance, hypertension and obesity occur. Obesity significantly influences the onset of cardiovascular disorders particularly in the presence of type 2 diabetes mellitus giving rise to Met S. Various plant based remedies are known to treat metabolic syndrome by virtue of their antihyperlipidemic, antitumour, antioxidant, anorexia, anti-inflammatory and antihyperglycemic activities. Present study was designed to assess the effect of herbal test formulation of five plants viz., Dioscorea bulbifera, Termenalia chebula, Termenalia arjuna, Hippophae rhamnoids and Nardostachys jatamansi   in hyperglycemic and hyperlipidemic (atherogenic property) albino Wistar rats. D. bulbifera (bulb), T. chebula (berries), T. arjuna (dried fruit pulp), N. jatamansi (rhizome) and H. rhamnoids (bulb) were collected, dried and powered. Distilled water and alcohol (60:40) were used to extract the active constituents present in the plant samples and were mixed in a definite proportion to make test formulation. Two studies were designed to assess the anti hyperglycemic and anti-atherogenic activity of the test formulation in high cafeteria and high cholesterol rich diet induced experimental rats respectively. In study I body weight, systolic blood pressure, total cholesterol, triglycerides, plasma insulin decreases significantly on the administration of ayurvedic formulation dose dependent with control group while in study II significantly reduction in LDL-c and increase in level of HDL –c giving treatment with conventional anti – obesity drug. Obesity is a multi factorial disorder and is a major risk factor for T2DM, hypercholesterolemia and ischemic heart disease. Present study revealed that the administration of test formulation in hyperglycemic and hyperlipidemic rat models mitigates the body weight, cholesterol, triglycerides, blood glucose, LDL-c, and HDL-c towards the normal values. The test formulation showed anti-hyperglycemic, insulin sensitivity enhancing, and anti atherogenic   activity in hyperglycemic and hyperlipidemic induced rats.