Phytochemical analysis and evaluation of anti-hyperlipidaemic effect for ethanolic leaf extract of Equisetum ramosissimum L.: in vivo study on rats’ models

Abstract

This study aims to investigate the anti-hyperlipidaemic effect of ethanolic leaf extract of Equisetum ramosissimum. 2,2-Diphenyl-1- picrylhydrazyl assay for antioxidants, Folin-Ciocalteu, AlCl3, and UHPLC-MS/MS analysis, focusing on phenols and flavonoid content were performed. Anti-hyperlipidemic effect of the extract on lipid profile and body weight was evaluated alone or in combination with Atorvastatin in rats. The extract was shown to contain phenols (0.032±0.001 µg/g, equivalent to gallic acid), flavonoids (0.044±0.003 mg/g, equivalent to quercetin), and antioxidant IC50 value of (1000.00±0.78 µg/mL). UHPLC-MS/MS analysis revealed the presence of 8 different phenols and flavonoids. An in vivo study on healthy standard diet-fed animals and an induced hyperlipidaemic model showed a significant (P < 0.05) reducing effect of the extract alone and in combination with Atorvastatin on serum lipid profile. These findings revealed the potential advantages of the extract alone and in combination with statins for preventing or treating hyperlipidaemia, but need to be further explored.