The cardiovascular diseases are, in general, associated with high levels of serum lipids which have high incidence in middle-age men and women. Among other properties characterized by popular medicine, the Vitex megapotamica (Spreng) Moldenke (V. montevidensis Cham) - Tarumã, decreases the serum cholesterol and triacylglycerol levels. The main proposition of the present study was to evaluate the hypocholesterolemic and hipolipidaemic potential of V. megapotamica and to analyze the preliminary toxicity. It was an induction hyperlipidaemic model using propiltiuracil 1.25 mg/kg weight and cholesterol 200 mg/ kg weight per oros in male rats, weigthing 300 ± 10 g. It was administred to the animals 300 mg/ kg of hydroalcoholic leaves extract of V. megapotamica or 300 mL of hull decoction per oros. After the end of each treatment, the lipid profile was essayed as well as glucose, when relevant. Our results confirmed the V. megapotamica extract and decoction hypolipidaemic effect by the decrease of cholesterol and triacylglycerides serum levels in concentration, via and preparation performed. Furthermore, the toxicological preliminary assays showed there was not extract and decoction damage induction in cardiac and hepatic tissues, as well as in kidney physiology by assays performed.
Vitex megapotamica; Lamiaceae; hypocholesterolaemia; hypotriglyceridaemia
