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ANTIHYPERLIPIDEMICS: EFFECT OF APPLE CIDER VINEGAR ON LIPID PROFILES

Article  in  International Journal of Biological & Pharmaceutical Research · January 2012

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Ajaykumar TV. et al. / International Journal of Biological & Pharmaceutical Research. 2012; 3(8): 942-945.

e- ISSN 0976 - 3651

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IJBPR
International Journal of Biological
&
Pharmaceutical Research
Journal homepage: www.ijbpr.com

ANTIHYPERLIPIDEMICS: EFFECT OF APPLE CIDER VINEGAR ON

LIPID PROFILES
T.V. Ajaykumar1*, K. Anandarajagopal2, R.A.M. Jainaf1, N.Venkateshan3, R. Ananth4
1
Faculty of Pharmacy, Asia Metropolitan University College of Health Sciences,
Taman Kemacahaya, Batu-9, Cheras 43200, Selangor, Malaysia.
2
School of Pharmacy, KPJ Healthcare University College,
Perserian Seriemas, Kota Seriemas, Nilai 71800, Negeri Sembilan, Malaysia.
3
SBCP College of Pharmacy, Anaikuttam, Sivakasi 626130, Tamilnadu, India.
4
AKCP College of Pharmacy, Anand Nagar, Krishnankoil 626190, Tamilnadu, India.

ABSTRACT
Abnormal metabolism of lipids leads the elevated level of fatty substances largely cholesterol and triglycerides into
blood stream results, hyperlipidemia. The lowering of lipid concentration in blood through dietary or drugs therapy seems to be
associated with a decrease in the risk of cardio vascular disease. Apple cider vinegar is a home remedy which is widely taken
by the people in Malaysia to reduce the body weight. In this present study, the apple cider vinegar (ACV) was prepared and
evaluated for its antihyperlipidemic activity in rat models. Hyperlipdemia in the rats was induced by feeding high cholesterol
diet (HCD). ACV (1ml/day) and standard drug, atrovastatin were orally administered to the animals in respective groups and
fed with HCD for 14 days except normal control rats. After the treatment cholesterol, triglycerides, HDL-C, LDL and VLDL
level in serum were estimated. The weight gain in hyperlipidemic rats was significantly reduced in ACV treated rats. A
significant increase in reduced HDL-C level and significant decrease in the elevated level of TC, TG, LDL and VLDL were
observed in ACV treated rats when compared to HCD fed rats. All the results were compared with standard drug, atrovastatin.
The results concluded that the ACV has significant antihyperlipidemic activity in HCD induced hyperlipidemia.

Key Words: Apple Cider Vinegar, Antihyperlipidemic, Cholesterol, Triglycerides, HDL-C.

INTRODUCTION and Vijayalakshmi NR, 2002). The uses of complementary

Traditional medicine is still the foundation of
about 75-80% of world population, mainly in the
developing countries. Many countries such as Malaysia,
Indonesia, India and China have a rich tradition of folk
medicine from centuries and provided effective remedies
to various ailments using plants and plants derived
compounds. There is no such risk factor to use the plant
medicine as compare with the allopathic drugs (Anila L
Corresponding Author
T.V. Ajaykumar
Email: ajayngl2000@gmail.com
and traditional medicines have been increasing worldwide
because of fewer side effects.
Hyperlipidemia is being a major problem and
causes other co-health problems in Malaysia and world
widely. Commencing the creation of the last century,
evidences on the cholesterol-lowering properties of
medicinal plants has been accumulating. The importance of
such investigations, are deep-rooted in the treatment of
obesity, diabetes mellitus, heart failure and atherosclerosis
(Ochuko LE et al., 2010). The main aim of treatment in
patients with hyperlipidemia is to reduce the risk of
developing ischemic heart disease or the incidence of
further cardiovascular or cerebrovascular disease.
Currently available hypolipidemic drugs have been

Ajaykumar TV. et al. / International Journal of Biological & Pharmaceutical Research. 2012; 3(8): 942-945.
associated with a number of side effects (Davey SG and
Pekkanen J, 1992). Medicinal plants are used for various
research purposes and has been reported that traditional
systems have immune potential against various diseases
(Berliner JA and Heinecke JW, 1996). Thereby the
development of herbal products for the treatment of
hyperlipidemia reduces the risk of this disorder in
vulnerable population and in turn reducing the health
expenditure by the government.
Malus domestica is a medium sized tree belonging
to the family Rosaceae. The fruit is commonly known as
Apple in English, Epal in Malay, Ping Guo in Chinese, Sev
in Hindi, Thoppai pazham in Tamil, Jablonja in Russian
and Pommier commun in French. Apples are consumed
worldwide in the form of fresh juices and cider (Alberto
MR et al., 2006) and used for curing cancer, cardiovascular
disease, asthma, and diabetes (Boyer J and Liu RH, 2004).
M. domestica fruits have many health beneficial effects for
human health, mostly due to the presence
phytoconstituents which provide high dietary supplements
such as dietary fibre, sugars, vitamins, and phenolic
compounds (Hagen SF et al., 2007). M. domestica exhibit
efficient antioxidant property owing to the presence of its
phytoconstituents (Fratinanni FA et al., 2007). Polyphenols
are common secondary metabolites of plants, with a well
known putative role in protection against the infection by
plant pathogens (Walker JRK, 1994). Apples also ranked
the second for total content of phenolic compounds,
including quercetin, catechin, phloridzin and chlorogenic
acid, all of which are strong antioxidants, and thus capable
of counterbalancing free radical activities that may cause
cell injuries (Bravo L, 1998 and Tedesco I et al., 2001).
Apple cider vinegar is a home remedy which is widely
taken by the people in Malaysia to reduce the body weight.
Hence, the present study was an attempt to prepare the
apple cider vinegar and evaluated antihyperlipidemic
activity in rat models to prove scientifically.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
Plant material
Fruits of Malus domestica used were purchased
from the local market, Cheras, Selangor, Malaysia in the
month of April 2011.
Preparation of Apple Cider Vinegar
Malus domestica fruits which are flawless, free
from spoilage, firm and ripe were selected and washed
thoroughly with distilled water. The fruits were sliced,
crushed using electrical juicer. The juice was collected by
filtering the mixture through muslin sack. Non pasteurized
juice was kept away from direct sunlight and maintained
the temperature at 60 to 800F for 3 weeks, to allow the
sediment to begin settling at the bottom as fermentation
bubbles rise to the top and the clear liquid was separated
from the sediment. The mixture was stirred daily and
allowed the lid open. A vinegar-like smell was noticed and
943
sample was tasted daily until to reach the desired strength.
The vinegar was pasteurized by heating until the
temperature reached to 1400F not exceeding 1600F. The
vinegar was allowed to cool down to room temperature,
transferred into the sterile containers that have air tight lids
and stored in refrigerator at 400F or lower until further use.
Screening of Antihyperlipidemic activity
Animals
Male albino rats of Wistar strain (150 ± 30 g)
were procured from Laboratory Animal Research Unit,
Asia Metropolitan University College of Health Sciences.
Malaysia and housed in plastic cages. The animals were
maintained under room temperature (25 ± 4°C), 12h
light/12h dark cycle and 35 – 60% relative humidity at the
animal house. The rats had free access to the food which is
a commercial pellet and drinking water. The study was
approved by University Animal Ethics Committee
(UAEC), Asia Metropolitan University College of Health
Sciences, Cheras, Selangor, Malaysia. All the experiments
were performed in accordance with the Code of Practice
for the Care and Use of Animals for Scientific Purposes.
Induction of Hyperlipidemia in rats
High cholesterol diet (HCD) consisted almonds,
cashew nuts, and highly cholesterol content cheeses was
used to induce hyperlipidemia. The normal rat feed was
powdered and mixed with each type of fat so as to fix 25%
fat in the diet.
Antihyperlipidemic activity
The animals were divided into four groups of five
rats each. The first group was normal control and received
distilled water whereas the second group was
hyperlipidemia control and fed with HCD alone. Groups
three and four received ACV (1ml/day) and standard drug,
atrovastatin (2.7 mg/kg b.w.) respectively daily for 14 days
and fed with HCD. During the experimental period the
body weight of the rats were noted. After the experimental
period, all the rats were fasted overnight and the blood
sample of each rat was collected from rat tail vein. The
collected blood samples were centrifuged at 2000rpm for
15min to separate serum samples and subjected to estimate
biochemical constituents such as cholesterol (TC),
triglycerides (TG), high density lipoproteins cholesterol
(HDL-C), low density lipoproteins (LDL) and very low
density lipoproteins (VLDL) (Pricilla K et al., 2010).
Standard enzyme assay kids are used to estimate the serum
biochemical constituents.
Statistical Analysis
The results were expressed by mean ± SEM.
Statistical significance were analyzed by ANOVA
followed by Student’s ‘t’ test, the statistical analysis was
conducted with SPSS software (v.17, SPSS, USA) at
significant levels of 0.05 and 0.01(Anbu JSJS et al., 2012).
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Ajaykumar TV. et al. / International Journal of Biological & Pharmaceutical Research. 2012; 3(8): 942-945.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION may accelerate the development of atheroscelerosis leading

The prepared home remedy, ACV has a pH
of 5.20 and evaluated for antihyperlipidemic potential in
hyperlipidemia induced rats. A significant increase in body
weight was observed in hyperlipidemia induced rats on day
7 and day 14 when compared to normal control rats. Also a
marked decrease in the elevated body weight was observed
in ACV treated animals and compared to hyperlipidemia
induced rats that indicated the protective action of ACV
against hyperlipidemia. Estimation of lipid profile in serum
of ACV treated animals supports the protective action.
Serum lipid profile with high levels of TC, TG, LDL, and
lower HDL are the indicators for hyperlipidemia that to be
targeted to alter this derange to normal using proper
treatment to avoid the risk of cardiovascular diseases and
other complications. Oral consumption of ACV in
hyperlipidemia rats showed that the significant (P<0.01)
reduction in the elevated levels of TC, TG, LDL and
VLDL and significant (P<0.01) increase in HDL-C values
when compared with hyperlipidemic rats. All the results
were well comparable with the animals treated with
standard drug, Atorvastatin.
The deranged lipid profile in serum is not
managed in the early stage; it leads to the formation of
foam cells, resulting to the release of inflammatory
cytokines and endothelial cells dysfunction (Shetgiri PP et
al., 2010). A reduction of plasma HDL-C concentration
to ischaemic heart diseases, by impairing the clearing of
cholesterol from the arterial wall. HDL is synthesized
mainly in intestine and liver. It has high phospholipids
content and is involved in reverse cholesterol transport.
HDL is considered to be a beneficial lipoprotein as it has
an inhibitory effect in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis
(Pricilla K et al., 2010). Also the decrease in cholesterol
may indicate the increased oxidation of mobilized fatty
acids of inhibition or lipolysis (Sudha SS et al., 2011).
The phytoconstituents present in Malus
domestica might be responsible for the antihyperlipidemic
activity of ACV. Sanoner P et al., (1999) studied the
presence of polyphenols and Ismail RSA et al., (2010)
reported the presence of dietary supplements such as
polyphenols and flavanoids in Malus domestica. Varsha D
et al., (2010) found that the presence of flavonoids and
polyphenols in Cinnamomum tamala Nees could be
considered for increasing HDL and decreasing LDL and
VLDL. Flavonoids in Luffa aegyptiaca fruits may act by
making liver cells more efficient to remove LDL-C from
blood by increasing LDL receptor densities in liver and by
binding to apolipoprotein (Abdul HT et al., 2011). From
these findings, the results have found that ACV did not
affect the normal body weight and the lipid profile level in
blood.

Table 1. Effect of Apple Cider Vinegar on rats

Body weight TC TG HDL-C LDL VLDL
Treatment
(g) (mg/dl) (mg/dl) (mg/dl) (mg/dl) (mg/dl)
G1 (Control) 150.4 ± 9.52 98.6 ± 3.36 78.2 ± 4.96 54.2 ± 3.03 24.4 ± 1.14 11.9 ± 0.74
G2 (HCD) 167.0b ± 9.11 182.2b ± 4.91 125.2b ± 7.29 23.6b ± 2.07 39.4b ± 2.07 22.1b ± 2.40
G3 (HCD +
156.2†† ± 4.82 107.4†† ± 8.29 97.6† ± 3.84 38.8†† ± 1.92 32.8† ± 2.77 18.6† ± 0.65
ACV)
G4 (HCD +
152.2†† ± 4.32 102.4†† ± 6.10 81.4††± 2.96 46.2†† ± 3.49 27.2†† ±2.38 14.1†† ± 0.74
Standard drug)
Values are mean ± SD, n=5, aP<0.05, bP<0.01, statistically significant between hyperlipidemia control group and normal
control, †P<0.05, ††P<0.01, statistically significant between ACV and standard drug treated groups and hyperlipidemia control
group.

CONCLUSION responsible present in apple cider vinegar for

The findings of this present study concluded that antihyperlipidemic activity.
apple cider vinegar exhibited antihyperlipidemic activity.
This could be useful for prevention or early treatment of ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
complications caused by hyperlipidemia. Further The authors are thankful to the management of
researches would be needed in this time to develop the Asia Metropolitan University College of Health Sciences,
exact mechanism of action of the bioactive molecule Cheras, Malaysia for providing the required facilities to
carry out the research work.

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