Cardiovascular diseases with an incidence of approximately 50% are the main causes of death in most advanced countries and an increasing trend in the developing world as well. The World Health Organization estimates that 12 million people per year worldwide die from
cardiovascular diseases.
Cardiovascular diseases are becoming an increasing problem worldwide and
hypercholesterolemia has been correlated for
coronary heart diseases. Nearly all
lipoproteins are involved in this process including
cholesterol carried by
very low density lipoproteins (VLDL), remnant
lipoproteins and
low density lipoproteins (
LDL). Currently, available
hypolipidemic drugs have been associated with the number of side effects. Herbal treatment for
hyperlipidemia poses no side effects and is relatively cheap and locally available. In view of this, the present study was carried out to investigate the effect of Menthe piperita on serum
lipid levels of albino rats. Mentha piperita aqueous extract (100 mg/Kg, 250 mg/Kg p.o. daily) was fed for 3 weeks on
fructose-fed rats and the levels of
glucose,
cholesterol,
triglycerides,
very low density lipoprotein,
low density lipoprotein, and atherogenic index was measured. Twenty-four male Sprague Dawley rats were divided into four groups (6 per group). The results of present study indicate that Mentha piperita had significant beneficial effects against
fructose-induced
hyperlipidemia and showed good
antioxidant activity. The aqueous extract of the plant produced a significant decrease (p < 0.05) in elevated levels of
glucose,
cholesterol,
triglycerides,
very low density lipoprotein,
low density lipoprotein and atherogenic index and also increased the
high density lipoprotein cholesterol levels and HDL-ratio without affecting serum
insulin levels in
fructose-fed rats.