Hypolipidaemic 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.