| Effect of Gundelia tournefortii L. extract on lipid profile and TAC in Patients with
Coronary Artery Disease: A double-blind randomized placebo controlled clinical trial
Abstract
Context: Gundelia tournefortii (GT) has been known to possess hypolipidemic and
antioxidant activities.
Objective: This study was carried out to evaluate the effects of GT on total antioxidant
capacity (TAC) and lipid profile in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD).
Materials and methods: A total of 38 angiographically confirmed CAD patients were
enrolled in this randomized, double-blind, clinical trial. The subjects consumed G.
tournefortii extract (GTE) or placebo for 8 consecutive weeks. Serum total cholesterol,
triglyceride, high density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-c), low density lipoproteincholesterol
(LDL-c) and TAC were determined by conventional methods. In addition, dietary
intake was recorded using 24-h recall method and converted into nutrients with software
Nut4 version1.
Results: At the end of the study, the GTE group had recorded a significantly lower energy
intake compared to the placebo group (p=0.04). The BMI also significantly decreased in the
GTE group by 3% (from 26.5±3.6 kg/m2 at baseline to 25.9±3.6 kg/m2 at the end of the trial).
There was a significant reduction in total cholesterol level in the GTE group (151±23.8 mg/dl
at baseline to 131.1±25.9 mg/dl at the end of the trial), however, its level increased slightly in
the placebo group (133.5±22 mg/dl at baseline to 141.4±22.4 mg/dl at the end of the trial).
The mean value of LDL-c level notably decreased in the GTE group from 86±26 to
60.58±29.9 mg/dl (p=0.001). No significant differences were observed in the groups for
HDL-c or triglyceride levels; however, TAC significantly changed in the two groups after the
intervention.
Conclusion: The intervention resulted in a statistically significant difference in total
cholesterol, LDL-c and BMI suggesting that GTE may be an appropriate adjunctive
medicinal plant to help reduce the major risk factors of CAD. |