Hypocholesterolemic effect of the hypoglycaemic principle of fenugreek (Trigonella foenum graecum) seeds

A potent hypoglycaemic principle was isolated by us earlier from the seeds of fenugreek. We have now investigated its hypocholesterolemic effect. Hypercholesterolemia was induced in two groups of rabbits (5 each) by feeding orally cholesterol 100 mg/kg/day for one week. From 8th day group I animals (controls) received the same dose of cholesterol for 4 more weeks. Group II animals (treated) were given along with the same dose of cholesterol fenugreek principle at 50 mg/kg/day for 4 weeks. Fenugreek principle not only prevented the elevation of serum cholesterol, (LDL+VLDL)c, triacylglycerols and the ratios of total cholesterol/HDLc and (LDL+VLDL)c/HDLc, but also brought down most of these values. Blood glucose levels were normal. The study shows that the same hypoglycaemic principle has hypocholesterolemic effect also.