Indian Journal of Pharmacology

The effect of low dose felodipine on serum cholesterol of rabbits fed on atherogenic diet was studied. Total plasma cholesterol was estimated at the beginning and at the end of 10 weeks of diet/drug administration. There was a significant increase in mean serum cholesterol level of rabbits receiving atherogenic diet with vehicle from 62.23( 5.12 mg/dl to 165.75( 13.62 mg/dl, whereas corresponding values for the rabbits receiving atherogenic diet with felodipine was from 66.55(4.53 mg/dl to 100.5% 6.91 mg/dl. The rise in 10 weeks serum cholesterol level in latter group was significantly low (P < 0.001). The drug/vehicle has no significant effect on serum cholesterol of rabbits receiving standard diet. Thus early low dose felodipine has a significant cholesterol lowering effect.