EFFECT OF MEDICINAL-PLANTS ON THE CRYSTALLIZATION OF CHOLESTEROL

One of the least desirable calcifications in the human body is the min eral deposition in atherosclerosis plaques. These plaques principally consist of lipids such as cholesterol, cholesteryl esters, phospholipi ds and triglycerides. Chemical analysis of advanced plaques have shown the presence of considerable amounts of free cholesterol identified a s cholesterol monohydrate crystals. Cholesterol has been crystallized in vitro. The extracts of some of the Indian medicinal plants detailed below were used as additives to study their effect on the crystalliza tion behaviour of cholesterol. It has been found that many of the herb s have inhibitory effect on the crystallization such as nucleation, cr ystal size and habit modification. The inhibitory effect of the plants are graded as Commiphora mughu1 > Aegle marmeleos > Cynoden dactylon > Musa paradisiaca > Polygalajavana > Alphinia officinarum > Solanum t rilobatum > Enicostemma lyssopifolium.