Phytother Res. 2002 Aug; 16(5): 479-83.

Hypolipidaemic activity of seaweed from Karachi coast.

Ara J, Sultana V, Qasim R, Ahmad VU.

Department of Food Science and Technology, University of Karachi, Karachi-75270, Pakistan.

During the present study, ethanol extracts of five seaweed species Solieria robusta, Iyengaria stellata, Colpomenia sinuosa, Spatoglossum asperum and Caulerpa racemosa at 10 mg/ 200 g body weight were tested for their hypolipidaemic activity. All the species significantly decreased the serum total cholesterol, triglyceride and low density lipoprotein cholesterol levels in normal, triton-induced and diet-induced hyperlipidaemic rats. Solieria robusta was found to be the most effective in reducing the lipid profile, particularly in diet-induced hyperlipidaemic rats. A beneficial effect of the ethanol extract of S. asperum was also found on cardiac and liver enzymes in diet-induced hyperlipidaemic rats.Copyright 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.