Efficacy of β-sitosterol isolated from Evolvulus alsinoides L. as anti-hyperlipidemic and anti-tumor agent: Evidence from animal studies.

Objective: To explore the anti-hyperlipidemic and anti-tumor effect of ethanolic extract of Evolvulus alsinoides, its chloroform fraction and isolated components in Triton-induced hyperlipidemic rats.

Methods: Animals were administered with intraperitoneal (i.p.) injection of Triton WR 1339 at a dose of 400 mg/kg body weight. After 24 h of Triton administration the test drugs were administered orally at a dose of 200 mg/kg body weight in rats. The ethanolic extract and stigmast-5-en-3β-ol from Evolvulus alsinoides were further investigated for the tumor take inhibitory activity in hybrid mice (of C57BL strain + Swiss albino strain). Preventive group animals were injected daily with the extract and stigmast-5-en-3β-ol at dose of 50 mg/kg body weight i.p. for 10 consecutive days. The animals were observed for the growth of tumor after injection of B16F10 melanoma cells into the dorsal skin of mice.

Results: Stigmast-5-en-3β-ol showed a marked antihyperlipidemic potential by reducing the total cholesterol, triglycerides, low density lipoproteins level, and significantly increased high density lipoprotein level compared with other isolated component. Pretreatment with the drug showed delay tumor growth by increasing the volume doubling time and growth delay. The stigmast-5-en-3β-ol showed better mean survival time.

Conclusion: The supplementation of antioxidants and phytosterols rich food Evolvulus alsinoides has significant tumor take inhibitory activity.