HYPOLIPEMIC AND ANTIATHEROSCLEROTIC EFFECTS OF ORAL GYMNEMA-SYLVESTRE R BR LEAF EXTRACT IN ALBINO-RATS FED ON A HIGH-FAT DIET

Gymnema sylvestre R. Br. leaf extract (25-100 mg/kg) when orally administered to experimentally induced hyperlipidaemic rats for 2 weeks, reduced the elevated serum triglyceride (TG), total cholesterol (TC), very low-density lipoprotein (VLDL)-and low-density lipoprotein (LDL)-cholesterol in a dose-dependent manner. The decreased serum high-density lipoprotein (HDL)-cholesterol and antiatherogenic index (AAI) in hyperlipidaemia were also reversed towards normalization. The ability of this extract (at 100 mg/kg) to lower TG and TC in serum and its antiatherosclerotic potential were almost similar to that of a standard lipid lowering agent-clofibrate.