Effect of Fenugreek Seeds Powder (Trigonella foenum-graecum L.) on Experimental Induced Hyperlipidemia in Rabbits

In the present experimental study, the effect of Trigonella foenum-graecum L. (TFG) seeds powder on experimentally induced hyperlipidemia in rabbits was investigated. Twenty albino rabbits were randomly, equally divided into two groups and fed pure cholesterol (0.5g/kg body weight/day) for the period of eight weeks to develop hyperlipidemia. Group-I (control) and Group-II received a normal diet with 2 mL normal saline and 2 mL aqueous emulsified TFG seeds powder (500 mg/kg body weight/day) for four weeks, respectively. Lipid profile and weight were measured at baseline after eight weeks and at the end of the study (12 weeks). Atherogenic indices were calculated by Friedewalds formula. Statistical analysis was performed using IBM: SPSS version 20, and student t test was used to compare variables between groups. After eight weeks of study period, cholesterol feeding was discontinued and hyperlipidemic value was compared with the initial baseline data. Significant increase in body weight and lipid profile variables were observed in the two groups, while there was a significant decrease in high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C). After the end of the study (12 weeks), the aqueous emulsified fenugreek (TFG) seeds powder reduced significantly the serum total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), and the atheriogenic index (P < 0.001), with significant increase in the HDL-C (P < 0.001) in experimentally hyperlipidemic rabbits (P < 0.001) as compared to control group, whereas no significant differences were observed in the triglyceride very low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (VLDL-C) and body weight (P > 0.05) of both groups. It was concluded that fenugreek seeds powder had a significant hypolipidemic effect in experimentally-induced hyperlipidemic rabbits.