Objectives: - To study the effects of Green Tea (GT) on serum lipids and atherogenesis in rats. Methods: Hypercholesterolemia was induced in normal rats by administering coconut oil and Vanaspathi ghee orally along with normal food in the ratio of 2:3 v/v at 10 ml/kg body weight. Then hypercholesterolemic groups were given Green Tea infusion 1.8 gm/kg/day at a volume of 10 ml/kg/day for 8 weeks. The effects of green tea were compared with that of simvastatin, which was also given to other group of rats at 1.8 mg/kg/day for 8 weeks. A combination of both green tea and simvastatin was also given to another group of rats. After end of 8 weeks blood samples collected for serum lipid profile using standard method. Statistical analysis used: One way ANOVA (Analysis of Variance) test followed by Dunnet’s multiple comparison tests. Results: Rats given GT with normal diet showed significant increase in HDL and decrease in LDL, but no significant reduction in AI. Rats fed with HFD showed significant increase in TC, TG, LDL and AI while decrease in HDL in comparison to normal. Concurrent administration of GT with HFD showed significant decrease in TC, TG, LDL and AI while increase HDL levels, but somewhat less effectively than that of Simvastatin. Combination showed more effectiveness than Simvastatin and GT alone. Conclusions: The present study demonstrates that GT has potent anti-hyperlipidemic, anti-atherogenic property in hypercholesterolemic rats, with potential to raise HDL in normal rats. It has synergistic action with Simvastatin.
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