Abstract
Objective: This study on animal model was designed to explore the LDL-Cholesterol lowering effect of an
antihypertensive drug Irbesartan.
Study Design:Randomised controlled experimental study.
Place and Duration of Study: The study was conducted in the animal house of National Institute of Health (NIH),
Islamabad. Biochemical analysis of rabbit's serum was carried out in the department of chemical pathology,
Army Medical College, Rawalpindi from February 2013 to June 2013.
Materials and Methods: Eighteen rabbits were divided into three groups (group A, group B and group C) of six
rabbits each. Group one was labelled as normal control. The other two groups (B and C) were made
hyperlipidemic by feeding them with high cholesterol diet. Of these, group B was taken as hyperlipidemic
control and group C as treatment group. Serum LDL levels were estimated at three different occasions i.e.
baseline, after giving high cholesterol diet to hyperlipidemic groups and after 30 days of giving irbesartan to
treatment group.
Results: Serum analysis for the estimation of LDL-Cholesterol of all the groups was done and their means were
calculated and compared with the base line values using SPSS Version 20. Irbesartan treated group showed a
marked reduction in serum LDL cholesterol in comparison with the hyperlipidemic control group.
Conclusion: It is concluded that Irbesartan an antihypertensive agent, has also the ability to markedly reduce
raised serum LDL cholesterol levels.
