HYPOCHOLESTEROLEMIC ACTIVITY OF SAPONIN ON CHOLESTEROL ADDED BENGALGRAM (CICER-ARIETINUM) DIET IN RATS

Inclusion of purified alfalfa saponin in Bengalgram diet showed no int erference with food intake and food efficiency ratio during 47 days of feeding experiment. Saponin supplemented diet lowered total plasma ch olesterol, the effect being prominent, when cholesterol was absent in the diet In addition, saponin appeared to be a potent antiatherogenic agent, when supplemented to cholesterol-free and cholesterol containin g Bengalgram diets, but saponin supplementation did not exert any sign ificant effect on total liver lipids. ?he hypocholesterolemic and anti atherogenic effect of saponin could be directly correlated with their ability to decrease intestinal cholesterol absorption and the increase the faecal excretion of bile acids.