Mulberry (Morus indica L.) leaves were examined for cholesterol-lowering and HDL-raising effect in STZ-diabetic rats. Treatment with dried mulberry leaf powder for a period of 8 weeks was remarkably beneficial as evidenced by controlled hyperlipidemia commonly seen in STZ-diabetic rats. Mulberry leaves countered (reversed) the abnormalities in lipids as indicated by significant (p<0.01) decrease in serum triglycerides, phospholipids, cholesterol and plasma free fatty acids by 45, 10, 33 and 22 % respectively in diabetic rats compared to diabetic control rats which were characterized by significantly (p<0.01) raised levels of triglycerides (144%), phospholipids (17%), cholesterol (41%) and free fatty acids (46%) compared to the normal control rats. A marked increase in fecal bile acids (23%) was recorded in mulberry treated -diabetic rats compared to the untreated-diabetic group. In addition, mulberry supplementation significantly lowered LDL-C (68%) and VLDL-C (43%) levels and increased HDL-C (54%) and also altered atherogenic index (-56%) significantly when compared to the diabetic control group. Besides diabetic rats, mulberry supplementation could influence almost all the lipid parameters in normal rats. Cholesterol-lowering and HDL-raising effect of mulberry leaves is evident from the data.
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