Abstract

The effect of ferulic acid administration to atherogenic rats was investigated. 80 male Wistar rats were assigned to two categories. The first consisted of four groups which receive normal diet and divided into control rats, rats treated with ferulic acid (30 mg/kg body weight), simvastatin (10 mg/kg body weight) and a combined dose of both ferulic acid and simvastatin. The second four groups received atherogenic diet and divided into control, treated with ferulic acid, simvastatin and both ferulic acid and simvastatin using the previous doses. Doses were administered orally on daily basis and continued for 7 successive weeks. Serum concentrations of total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, triglycerides and glucose were determined. A significant decrease in serum levels of total cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol was observed in normal control and atherogenic rats treated with ferulic acid. No significant differences were observed in serum levels of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol and glucose after treating atherogenic rats with ferulic acid or simvastatin or the combination. 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-coenzyme A reductase activity was increased in the atherogenic control group compared to their matched normal control group. Treatment of atherogenic rats with the combined dose almost restored the enzyme activity to the normal level. Oral administration of ferulic acid has a hypocholesterolaemic effect and significantly reduces 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-coenzyme A reductase activity.