Central Composite Design based Optimization of Synergistic Anti-cholesterol activity in Garcinia indica and Thespesia populnea extracts

In this study, the anti-cholesterol potential of methanolic extracts of Garcinia indica bark and Thespesia populnea leaves was investigated using the Liebermann-Burchard colorimetric assay. Both individual and combined extract effects were examined; with the optimization of concentrations achieved through Central Composite Design [CCD]. The principal aim of this investigation was to evaluate the cholesterol-inhibitory characteristics of these extracts and ascertain their possible application as natural therapeutics for the regulation of cholesterol. The methanolic extracts of Garcinia indica and Thespesia populnea demonstrated significant cholesterol inhibition. Garcinia indica showed an inhibition rate of 76.43±0.39%, while Thespesia populnea displayed an inhibition rate of 71.83±0.46% at a concentration of 80 μg/mL. Thespesia populnea and Garcinia indica both had significant anti-cholesterol action, as indicated by their respective IC50 values [18.25 μg/mL and 16.43 μg/mL], which represent the concentration needed to prevent 50% of cholesterol development. Further, optimization using CCD identified that a combination of 63.79 μg/mL of Garcinia indica and 57.86 μg/mL of Thespesia populnea achieved an enhanced cholesterol inhibition rate of 81.49%, suggesting a synergistic effect when both extracts were combined. GraphPad Prism software was used to conduct a statistical study utilizing one-way ANOVA and Dunnett’s test to determine the significance of the extracts’ effects relative to the standard. Using Design Expert® Software, the CCD optimization yielded important information on the ideal concentrations needed for these plant extracts to maximally suppress cholesterol. The findings from this study suggest that the combined extracts of Garcinia indica and Thespesia populnea offer a promising natural alternative for cholesterol regulation and the prevention of cardiovascular diseases. These findings highlight the plant extracts’ potential as natural herbal remedies for controlling cholesterol. Further research is recommended to elucidate the mechanistic pathways of action, as well as to explore the clinical applications of these extracts, with the ultimate goal of validating their efficacy and safety for use in broader contexts of cholesterol management and cardiovascular disease prevention.