Lipid Lowering Effect of Ethanolic Extract of Carduus crispus L. on Hypercholesterolemic Rats

Abstract

The main purpose of this study was to determine possible effects of the ethanolic extract of aerial parts of Carduus crispus L. on the serum lipids in hypercholesterolemic rats. After oral administration for two weeks, C. crispus extract produced signifi cant decrease on serum total cholesterol, low density lipoprotein cholesterol, triglyceride levels and atherogenic indices in hypercholesterolemic groups (P < 0.05). C. crispus extract had no effects on serum high density lipoprotein cholesterol levels in these groups. It is concluded that the extract of aerial parts of C. crispus exhibits lipid lowering activity in hypercholesterolemic rats.

Keywords

• Car duus crispus
• lipoproteins
• cholesterol