Antihypercholesterolemic and Antioxidative Potential of an Extract of the Plant, Piper betle, and Its Active Constituent, Eugenol, in Triton WR-1339-Induced Hypercholesterolemia in Experimental Rats

Table 2

Mean serum levels of hepatic marker enzymes in* Wistar rats.

Parameters tested	Group I; (control)	Group II; hypercholesterolemic,; saline treated	Group III; hypercholesterolemic,; lovastatin treated	Group IV; hypercholesterolemic,; Piper betle extract treated	Group V; hypercholesterolemic,; eugenol treated
AST	0.8±0.2	1.8±0.2^a	1.6±0.2^ab	1.3±0.3^ab	1.2±0.2^bcd
ALT	1.2±0.03	1.8±0.3^a	1.6±0.2^ab	1.2±0.1^ab	1.3±0.3^ab
ALP	2.0±0.1	3.3±0.7^a	3.0±0.1^a	3.2±0.1^ab	2.8±0.3^ab
LDH	6.9±0.4	17.2±0.5^a	13.4±0.7^ab	12.2±0.4^abc	12.5±0.5^abc

∗Sampling done 10 days after induction of hypercholesterolemia and 7 days after start of treatment.
Values represent the mean ± SD for observations made on five rats in each group.
Units: aspartate and alanine aminotransferases: µmoles × 10⁻² of pyruvate liberated/min/mg protein.
Alkaline phosphatase: µmoles × 10⁻² of phenol liberated/min/mg protein.
Lactate dehydrogenase: µmoles × 10⁻¹ of pyruvate formed/minute/mg protein.
Statistical analysis: one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA), where significant, post hoc testing (least significant difference) done for intergroup comparisons.
AST: aspartate aminotransferase, ALT: alanine aminotransferase, ALP: alkaline phosphatase, LDH: lactate dehydrogenase.
^aStatistically significant difference (𝑃<0.05) when compared with group I values.
^bStatistically significant difference (𝑃<0.05) when compared with group II values.
^cStatistically significant difference (𝑃<0.05) when compared with group III values.
^dStatistically significant difference (𝑃<0.05) when compared with group IV values.