Therapeutic Efficacy of Prosopis farcta versus Scrophularia striata Ethanolic Extracts in Atherosclerosis: Do They Compare Favorably with Atorvastatin in an Experimental Model?

INTRODUCTION: Atherosclerosis, a chronic inflammatory disease driven by lipid metabolism disorders and oxidative stress, remains a leading cause of mortality. Statins are effective but have significant side effects, necessitating exploration of safer herbal alternatives. Prosopis farcta and Scrophularia striata are two flavonoid-rich plants traditionally used for cardiac pain. The present study aims to compare the effects of extracts of these plants along with related parameters in male Wistar rats fed a High-Cholesterol Diet (HCD). METHODS: 49 male Wistar rats (250-280 g) were divided into 7 groups (n = 7): Control (normal diet), HCD (2% cholesterol + 0.5% cholic acid for 15 weeks), The experimental groups received HCD for 9 weeks, followed by 6 weeks of normal diet supplemented with atorvastatin (10 mg/kg), Prosopis farcta extract (50 or 100 mg/kg), or Scrophularia striata extract (100 or 500 mg/kg). At week 15, serum lipids, Ox-LDL, PON-1, adiponectin, SFRP5, and aortic histopathology were assessed. RESULTS: HCD significantly increased total cholesterol, triglycerides, and LDL, and decreased PON- 1, adiponectin, and SFRP5 (p < 0.001). Prosopis farcta (50 mg/kg) significantly reduced cholesterol (p < 0.001), triglycerides (p < 0.001), LDL (p < 0.001), and Ox-LDL (p < 0.05), and increased HDL (p < 0.01) and PON-1 (p < 0.001) compared to HCD. Scrophularia striata (100 and 500 mg/kg) significantly increased triglycerides (p < 0.001) and worsened histopathological findings. DISCUSSION: This study demonstrates significant differential modulation of atherogenesis by flavonoid- rich botanicals. Prosopis farcta exhibited potent hypolipidemic and anti-atherogenic effects through LDL oxidation inhibition and paraoxonase-1 activation, comparable to atorvastatin. In contrast, Scrophularia striata paradoxically exacerbated dyslipidemia, potentially due to pro-oxidant effects at higher doses. The findings highlight the therapeutic potential of specific phytochemicals to modulate oxidative stress and metabolic-inflammatory pathways in atherosclerosis, while emphasizing the need for precise dose optimization in herbal interventions. CONCLUSION: Prosopis farcta (50 mg/kg) demonstrated significant hypolipidemic and antiatherogenic effects comparable to atorvastatin, while Scrophularia striata showed paradoxical adverse effects. These findings suggest that Prosopis farcta warrants further investigation as a potential herbal candidate for the management of atherosclerosis. However, clinical trials are needed to confirm its efficacy and safety in humans.