Antioxidant and antihyperlipidemic activity of Melia azedarach Linn. extracts in rats

Melia azedarach Linn, a deciduous tree belonging to Family Meliaceae, has been used traditionally for variety of ailments. Antioxidant and antihyperlipidemic activities of the extracts of leaves of Melia azedarach were studied by in vitro antioxidant assays and in vivo effects by Triton-WR 139 induced hyperlipidaemic model and high fat diet induced hyperlipidaemia model in Wistar albino rats. The phenolic and flavonoid content was also estimated. In Triton induced hyperlipidaemic model and also in high fat induced hyperlipidaemic model, aqueous and methanolic extracts has shown significant lipid lowering activity. In antioxidant activity study, ethyl acetate extract showed better IC₅₀ values in the DPPH and ABTS model, whereas, in o-phenanthroline assay, chloroform extract has shown better IC₅₀ value. Phenolic content in aqueous extract was found to be more, while flavonoid content in ethyl acetate extract.