Anti-hyperlipidemic effect and phytochemical analysis of essential oil from <i>Achillea ageratum</i> L.

Abstract

The objective of this study was to assess the impact of <i>Achillea ageratum</i> L. (<i>A. ageratum</i>) essential oil (EO) administered at a dosage of 50 mg/kg on triton WR-1339-induced hyperlipidemia in Wistar rats. The phytochemical composition of the EO was analyzed using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS), revealing the prevalence of oxygen-containing monoterpenes, and oxygen-containing sesquiterpenes. Furthermore, the principal constituents of <i>A. ageratum</i> EO included artemisyl acetate (54.09%), α-santalol (14.99%), and yomogi alcohol (8.98 %). The <i>in vivo</i> toxicity of this EO was assessed using the acute toxic class (ATC) method, revealing no adverse effects or mortality. The estimated LD₅₀ exceeded 2 g/kg. Triton WR-1339 administration resulted in significant increase in hyperlipidemia-associated parameters, including total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TGs), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-c), very low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (VLDL-c), as well as lipid ratios (TC/HDL-c and TGs/HDL-c). In contrast, pretreatment with <i>A. ageratum</i> L EO for seven days demonstrated a notable preventive effect against the rise plasma lipid levels and lipid ratios. In summary, this study reveals the promising potential of <i>A. ageratum</i> L EO in managing hyperlipidemia, which highlights the necessity for further research to elucidate the specific mechanistic pathways implicated.