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 anti-hypercholesterolemic 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.