The present study is premeditated to extenuate the role of Ficus virens extract and its bioactive compound on cigarette smoke, an important risk factor for CVD, induced oxidative stress and hyperlipidemia. Cigarette smoke (CS) exposure to rats results in significant loss of body weight and increases blood carbon monoxide saturation (carboxyhemoglobin), nicotine, plasma TC, TG, and LDL-C levels but reduced level of antiatherogenic HDL-C. Moreover, owing to substantial oxidative stress generated in rats due to cigarette smoke a significant increase in plasma and erythrocytes lipid peroxidation products were observed which was well correlated with increase in ex-vivo BDC (48%) and MDA (53%) level (p < 0.001). Simultaneous administration of FVBM extract at higher dose (100 mg/rat) and F18 (n-Octadecanyl-O-α-D-glucopyranosyl(6'→1'')-O-α-D-glucopyranoside) compound to CS-exposed rats effectively blocked the increase in plasma lipid and lipoprotein levels (p < 0.001) which was due to the marked suppression in the hepatic HMG-CoA reductase activity (p < 0.001) and significantly inhibit the lipid peroxidation process thus preventing the membrane damage, LDL oxidation, and in turn subsequent atherosclerosis. Thus, the results clearly demonstrated the protective role of FVBM extract and F18 compound in risk factor induced cardiovascular disease.
Keywords: Bioactive compound; Cigarette smoke; Ficus virens; Hyperlipidemia; Oxidative stress.