Original Research Article

Adrak: Pakistani herb for lowering body weight and lipids

Shah Murad^1*, Abdul Qadir Khokhar², Altaf H Mahar³, Shumaila Najeeb⁴, Nusratullah Khan⁵ and Seema Shah Murad⁶

¹Professor of Pharmacology, IMDC, Pakistan.
²AP Community Medicine at KIMS Karachi
³Research Associate at HEJ Institute of Chemistry, KU Pakistan
⁴Asso Prof of Histopathology at Yusra Medical College, Islamabad Pakistan
⁵Assistant Prof of Biochemistry at Bolan University of Medical and health Sciences, Quetta, Pakistan
⁶Gynecologist at IMDC Islamabad Pakistan

*Corresponding Author’s E-mail: shahhmurad65@gmail.com
Cell: +923338124611

Received: 26 January 2021  I  Accepted: 25 February 2021  I  Published: 28 February 2021  I  Article ID: MRJFST20010
Copyright © 2021 Author(s) retain the copyright of this article.
This article is published under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License 4.0.

Abstract

Conventional medicine used for hyperlipidemia in allopathy include statins, fibrates, niacin and resins but are going to defame due to their adverse effects. Herbal medicine ginger has proved itself as one of the potent antihyperlipidemic and antiobesity herb with least adverse effects. We did try to compare its hypolipidemic effects with placebo effects when used in mild to moderate hyperlipidemic patients. It was placebo-controlled single blind research study. Research was conducted at National hospital, Lahore, from July to November 2019. Consent was taken from sixty hyperlipidemic patients age range from 25 to 60 years. Both gender male and female patients were enrolled. Patients were randomly divided in two groups, 30 patients were on drug ginger pasted-powder advised to take 5 grams in divided doses with their normal diet for the period of three months. Thirty patients were on placebo pasted-wheat powder, with same color as of ginger powder, advised to take 5 grams in divided doses with their normal diet for the period of three months. Their base line lipid profile and body weight was recorded at start of treatment and were advised to come for check-up, fortnightly. When duration of study was over, their lipid profile and body weight was measured and compared statistically with pre-treatment values. Three months treatment with 5 grams of ginger decreased total cholesterol from 233.11±1.53 mg/dl to 198.44±1.23 mg/dl, LDL cholesterol reduced from 202.21±1.88 mg/dl to 187.72± 1.98 mg/dl, reduced body weight from 76.01±2.66 kg to 72.80±1.87 kg. Both plasma total cholesterol and LDL cholesterol reduction was statistically significant, but body weight decrease was non-significant when analyzed biostatistically.

Keywords: LDL, HDL, Body weight, CAD, fats, prevention