Cholesterol lowering activity of mango ginger (Curcuma amada Roxb.) in induced hypercholesterolemic rats

Mango ginger (Curcuma amada Roxb.) is a
spice commonly consumed in Asian countries. Health
beneficial hypotriglyceridemic property of mango ginger
has been reported earlier. In this investigation, the antihypercholesterolemic
influence of dietary mango ginger
was evaluated in experimental rats. Dietary mango ginger
powder (10%) or its equivalent of 10 mg% curcumin-containing
portion was fed along with 1% cholesterol
supplemented diet in Wistar rats for 5 weeks. The treatment
countered the liver and serum total and LDL + VLDL
associated cholesterols and increased the HDL associated
cholesterol while it had no influence on cholesterol levels in
animals, maintained on normal diet. Dietary C. amada and
its curcumin-free portion were effective in lowering liver
cholesterol in animals, maintained on basal diet, while the
curcumin-containing component of C. amada was ineffective.
The biliary secretion of total lipids and bile acids was
increased by dietary C. amada and both of its components.
While biliary cholesterol was increased in animals fed with
whole mango ginger, no such increases were noticed in
groups fed with either components of mango ginger. Cholesterol
absorption in ligated rat intestinal loops was not
affected by mango ginger or either of its components. Thus,
the present study has evidenced that the spice mango ginger
possesses beneficial anti-hypercholesterolemic activity in
hypercholesterolemic situation. This information is complementary
to the earlier report on the health beneficial
hypotriglyceridemic influence of this spice.