A Comparative Study on Clinical Evaluation of the Hypolipidemic Effects of Allium sativum, Trigonella foenum-graecum, Commiphora mukul, Picrorhiza kurroa, and Piper nigrum: A Pilot Study

Background Cardiovascular disease is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality. Therefore, it is essential to prevent cardiovascular diseases by correcting modifiable risk factors such as lowering lipid levels, lowering blood pressure, improving eating habits, giving up smoking, etc. The present study assessed the efficacy of herbal preparation containing Allium sativum (A. sativum), Commiphora mukul (C. mukul), and Trigonella foenum-graecum (T. foenum-graecum) in patients with hyperlipidemia. Methodology Patients were given extracts of A. sativum 350 mg, T. foenum-graecum 350 mg, C. mukul 200 mg, Picrorhiza kurroa (P. kurroa) 200 mg, and Piper nigrum (P. nigrum) 5 mg. Unichem Laboratories, Mumbai, provided placebo tablets similar in shape and size to herbal tablets. Patients were assessed for compliance, and a complete lipid profile was done at DO, D15, D46, D76, and D106. In addition, total cholesterol and high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-C) serum triglyceride were estimated by the respective methods throughout the study. Results The weight of the patients remained stable, the mean weight before being 65.42 ± 8.35 kg and after completion of the study being 65.42 ± 8.35 kg. There were no changes in the ECG during or after the drug therapy in any of the patients. Group A comprised nine patients, and group B had ten patients. Serum creatinine (mg %) was 0.94 and 0.95, fasting blood sugar mg (%) was 111.05 and 99.63, and postprandial blood sugar (mg %) was 150.89 and 147.94 on pre-treatment and post-treatment, respectively. The mean serum triglyceride levels in group A were 271.11, 261.11, 293.89, 167.22, and 128.89, and serum HDL- C levels were 46.11, 46.11, 54.44, 52.22, and 54.44. Serum triglyceride levels in group B were 268, 268.5, 202, 171, and 116, and serum HDL- C levels were 48.5, 48, 50, 50, and 53.5 on day 0, 15, 46, 76, and 106, respectively. A significant reduction in total cholesterol levels was observed on D46, D76, and D106, with a maximum reduction on D76 (25.36%). Similarly, a reduction in serum triglyceride was also observed on D46, D76, and D106, with a maximum reduction on D106 (52.02%). A significant difference was observed (P <0.05). There was also a significant reduction of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) on D46, D76, and D106, with the maximum reduction on D76 (28.79%). There was a significant rise of HDL-C on D46 and D106, with a maximum rise on D106 (15.41%). A significant difference was observed (P <0.05). Conclusion The study drugs are safe and efficacious in reducing the total cholesterol, serum triglycerides, LDL-C levels, and increasing HDL-C levels.