Research Article In Vivo Antihypercholesterolemic Potential of Swietenia mahagoni Leaf Extract Naveen Yelaware Puttaswamy 1 and Asna Urooj 2 1 Department of Biochemistry, Pooja Bhagavath Memorial Mahajana PG Center, Mysore, India 2 Department of Studies in Food Science and Nutrition, University of Mysore, Manasagangothri, Mysore, India Correspondence should be addressed to Asna Urooj; asnau321@gmail.com Received 31 July 2016; Revised 15 September 2016; Accepted 18 September 2016 Academic Editor: Patrizia M. Tarugi Copyright © 2016 N. Yelaware Puttaswamy and A. Urooj. is is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited. e present investigation aims to evaluate antihypercholesterolemic potential of Swietenia mahagoni leaf aqueous extract (MAE) in diet-induced hypercholesterolemic rat model. In the study, Wistar albino rats (170–220 g) were segregated into 5 groups; all the groups except normal control group were given high fat diet to induce hypercholesterolemia. Aſter induction of cholesterolemia, normal control and positive control groups were treated with saline, statin group was treated with atorvastatin, and remaining two groups received MAE in two doses (250 and 500 mg kg −1 BW) for a treatment period of one month. Aſter the treatment period, weight of rats was recorded and they were anesthetized and decapitated. Blood samples were taken and triglycerides, total cholesterol, LDL-C, HDL-C, malondialdehyde (MDA), and urea were determined. Liver and kidney were taken for the estimation of lipid peroxides. e positive control group showed higher values of triglycerides (109 ± 5.1 mg/dL), total cholesterol (134 ± 4.6 mg/dL), LDL-C (44 ± 1.2 mg/dL), MDA, and bile acid content when compared to a normal control group (triglycerides (89 ± 3.2 mg/dL), total cholesterol (72 ± 3.4 mg/dL), and LDL-C (28 ± 1.2 mg/dL)). Treatment with MAE decreased the cholesterol levels, HDL-C, ALT, AST, and bilirubin levels and the effect was dependent on the dose. e results of this study indicated that MAE possesses hypolipidemic potential and thus could be useful in the treatment of hypercholesterolemic condition. 1. Introduction Hypercholesterolemia, also known as dyslipidemia, is a pathological condition which is characterized by elevated amounts of cholesterol and lipoproteins in blood plasma [1]. Since the condition may result in various metabolic disorders such as cardiovascular diseases and diabetes, it is one of the major socioeconomic problems and is the result of a combination of a modern lifestyle and dietary habits [2]. On hypercholesterolemic condition, elevated levels of low density lipoproteins are deposited in the subendothelial region of arteries leading to inflammation and building up of plaque ultimately resulting in hypertension, decreased functional potential of metabolic organs (liver and kidney), and also dia- betes [3]. Clinical trials conducted on hypercholesterolemic subjects indicate that the drug which reduces the lipid levels has significant positive effects on morbidity and mortality [4]. Improving the elevated levels of LDL cholesterol has been found to reverse the atherosclerosis and hamper progression of cardiovascular diseases [5, 6]. Dyslipidemia is also a common condition associated with uncontrolled type II DM [7]. Swietenia mahagoni is a medicinal plant used by folklore as a primary health care need around the globe [8]. e medicinal plant has been widely investigated for various pharmacological effects [9–12]. In our laboratory, the plant has been extensively investigated for its phytochemical com- position, antioxidant potential, and antidiabetic potential by various in vitro and in vivo assays [13, 14]. In our previous study in diabetic animal model we have found that along with glucose lowering ability the extract has potential lipid lowering ability [15]. e present study hypothesis was based on the results of previous experiments. With the background, the study aims to evaluate antihypercholesterolemic potential of Swietenia mahagoni leaf aqueous extract (MAE) in the diet- induced hypercholesterolemic rat model. Hindawi Publishing Corporation Cholesterol Volume 2016, Article ID 2048341, 6 pages http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2016/2048341