The Evaluation of Red Clover (Trifolium Pretense L.) Active Compounds in Application for Lowering Blood Cholesterol Level
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2011-09-12 |
Background: Primary prevention of atherosclerosis can significantly reduce the of risk coronaro- heart diseases. The main way of preventing this disease are living adjustment (diet, physical activity, increase of overweight mažininmas), which reduces cholesterol but lifestyle modification and risk factor reduction is often insufficient. Hyperlipidemia may be treated with fibrates, bile acid sequestrants, nicotinic acid, ezetimibe, but the most effective and most commonly recommended drugs are 3-hydroxy-3-metilgliutaril-coenzyme A (HMG-CoA) reductase inhibitor (statin). Not all patients with elevated cholesterol levels can use statins because of their severe side effects or because of their frequent interactions with other drugs. In such cases it is appropriate to seek an alternative to statins. This may be an alternative herbal preparations. Studies have shown that plants accumulate active substances: flavonoids, saponins, phytosterols which can significantly reduce blood cholesterol levels and to prevent the development of atherosclerosis. One of such plant is widely distributed in Lithuania red clover (Trifolium pratense). It accumulates in the grass compounds possessing cholesterol-reducing properties. Folk medicine clover preparations are used for prevention of atherosclerosis . Due to the relatively high distribution and potential therapeutical potencial we decided to investigate and assess the possibilities of red clover herb to reduce the cholesterol level. Objective: to overview the possibility to use plants with antilipidemic properties growing in Lithuania to reduce blood cholesterol and to substantiate therapeutic potential of the red clover. [...].