Hyperlipidemia is a major cause of the global health burden in terms of cardiovascular diseases. The minimal efficacy and potential adverse effects of conventional therapeutic treatments have triggered a growing interest in phytotherapeutic alternatives. Caralluma fimbriata, a succulent plant recognized for its bioactive constituents, has been historically utilized for its metabolic regulation properties. This research was conducted to evaluate the therapeutic potential of C. fimbriata extract (CFE) in a rat model of hyperlipidemia. Forty male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomized into four groups (n=10/group), and a 60-day bio-efficacy trial was performed. The induction of hyperlipidemia was done by feeding a high-fat and high-cholesterol (HFHC) diet for 22 days. The GI (negative control), GII (positive control group), GIII (atorvastatin-treated, 10mg/kg body weight), and GIV (CFE-treated, 250mg/kg body weight) were the experimental groups. Physical, biochemical, and histological biomarkers were analyzed. Findings indicated that CFE supplementation (GIV) led to significant improvements in metabolic parameters compared to the positive control and with effects comparable to those of atorvastatin. CFE significantly diminished levels of total cholesterol, triglycerides, low-density lipoprotein, and very low-density lipoprotein, and simultaneously increased high-density lipoprotein concentrations (P<0.05), compared to the positive control. Moreover, body weight gain and feed intake were markedly reduced. There were significant improvements in biomarkers of liver and kidney function, along with hematological indices. In the treated groups, reduced hepatic and renal necrosis were revealed by histopathological analysis. These results support the therapeutic potential of CFE as a natural lipid-lowering agent and its role as an alternative and adjunct to other lipid-lowering measures in the management of hyperlipidemia and cardiovascular consequences.

To Cite This Article: Anwar R, Rakha A, El-Din Ibrahim ME, Amin AK, Almaweed M, El-Ghareeb WR and Aadil RM, 2026. Unravelling the hypolipidemic and anti-inflammatory potential of caralluma fimbriata: a biochemical and histological study in a rat model. Pak Vet J, 46(4): 987-997. http://dx.doi.org/10.29261/pakvetj/2026.085