An increase in plasma lipids, particularly cholesterol, is a common cause of atherosclerosis; a condition involving arterial damage which may lead to ischemic heart disease, myocardial infarctions and cerebralvascular accidents. Attempts have been made to develop pharmacological agents which reduce the concentration of plasma lipids.
Among the medical herbs, cyamposis tetragonolobus an annual legume tolerates arid conditions. Guar is made the plant seeds, known as a mucilaginous, hydrophilic polysaccharide. When wetted it forms highly viscous colloidal solutions. Cholesterol lowering effects are most often associated with gelling, mucilaginous and viscous guar gum. Moreover, viscous polysaccharides can suppress energy intake, and reduce hunger rating, and also delaying empting of stomach may increase satiety signals arising from the stomach.
In this study, First, Wistar Dawley male rats divided into 2 groups. For 9 months, one group fed high fat diet (10% oil fat); another group fed Normal fat diet. After then, guar gum at doses 5%, 10%, 20% added in Normal fat diet for 4 weeks; and food intake, water consumes and body weight in 4 weeks measured, but there was not significant difference.
Also, the days 0, 14, 28, blood was sampled from all groups and serum cholesterol, LDL-C, Triglyceride determined. Our data showed guar gum significantly reduced serum cholesterol, LDL-C and Triglyceride were significantly reduced in days 14, 28 as compared to control, and, the groups with consumes 20% guar gum, more reduced concentration of cholesterol, LDL-C and Triglyceride than groups with consumes 5%, 10% guar gum. Our findings may show therapeutic effect of guar gum on lowering the concentration of cholesterol, LDL-c, and Triglycerides; and it seems much doses of guar gum is more effective.