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

ContextGundelia tournefortii (GT) has been known to possess hypolipidemic and antioxidant activities.ObjectiveThis 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 methodsA 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 lipoprotein-cholesterol (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.ResultsAt 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.ConclusionThe 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.