Study of the antihyperlipidemic effect of Ammodaucus leucotrichus essential oil in rats

Ammodaucus leucotrichus is an important medicinal plant with several uses in traditional medicine. The study aimed to investigate the antihyperlipidemic activity of Hairy cumin (Ammodaucus leucotrichus; A. leucotrichus) essential oil (EO). The effect of A. leucotrichus fruit EO (50 and 250 mg/kg) on lipid and lipoprotein levels was evaluated on Triton WR-1339-induced hyperlipidemia in rats. Furthermore, the chemical analysis was performed by gas chromatography-mass spectroscopy (GC–MS). In addition, the toxicity assessment was conducted in vivo and in silico. Administration of Triton WR-1339 (200 mg/kg) resulted in significant increases in hyperlipidemia-associated parameters, including lipid profile and atherogenic indices. However, pretreatment with A. leucotrichus EO for 7 days demonstrated a notable preventive effect against the elevation of lipid levels and atherogenic indices compared to the group subjected solely to Triton WR-1339. The phytochemical composition of the EO revealed the predominant presence of oxygen-containing monoterpenes (55.67%), monoterpene hydrocarbons (29.32%), and oxygen-containing sesquiterpenes (8.03%). The main constituents of A. leucotrichus fruit EO were l-perillaldehyde (46.81%), d-limonene (23.84%), and bornyl angelate (6.20%). Additionally, acute toxicity assessment revealed the absence of adverse effects or mortality caused by the EO, with the estimated acute lethal dose 50 (LD₅₀) exceeding 2 g/kg. The study demonstrates the antihyperlipidemic potential of A. leucotrichus EO in an acute hyperlipidemia model. The phytochemical analysis revealed that the predominant constituents of EO were l-perillaldehyde, d-limonene, and bornyl angelate. Finally, the toxicological analysis showed the relative safety of A. leucotrichus essential oil in rats.