A Preliminary Study on Hypocholesterolemic and Hypoglycemic Activities of Some Medicinal Plants

Abstract

Total cholesterol level in mice with hypercholesterolemia was determined after intraperitoneal administration of the methanolic extract of some medicinal plants. From the data obtained, it was suggested that the methanolic extract of Elaeagnus crispa, Ixeris dentata, Prunus davidiana, Eriobotrya japonice, Aralia elata and Phragmites communis produced a significant hypocholesterotemic effect. In the case of the extract of Saussurea diamantiaca, on the other band, the total cholesterol level was markedly increased. The methanolic extract of Ixeris dentata, Prunus davidiana and Phragmites communes also decreased the level of blood glucose in alloxan-diabetic male albino mice while that of Eriobotrya japonica, Allium tuberosum, Houttuynia cordata and Eucommia japonica did not produce this effect.

Keywords

• Hypocholesterolemic effect;
• hypoglycemic effect;
• Elaeagnus crispa;
• Ixeris dentata;
• Prunus davidiana;
• Eriobotrya japonica;
• Aralia japonica;
• Saussurea diamantiaca;
• Phragmites communis