title: Eggplant (Solanum melongena) extract does not alter serum lipid levels.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To compare the effect of eggplant extract on serum lipid levels with that of lovastatin.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study included 21 individuals of both sexes, with total cholesterol (TC) levels > 200 mg/dL, no diabetes, no contraindication for the use of statins, and no use of cholesterol-lowering drugs, divided into the following 3 groups: 1) the eggplant group (B), in which the patients drank 1 glass of eggplant extract with orange juice before breakfast each morning; 2) the statin group (E), in which the patients received 20 mg of lovastatin in the evening after dinner; 3) control group (C), in which the patients received no treatment. Total cholesterol and fractions (HDL, LDL), and triglycerides were measured 3 times at 3-week intervals.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The baseline lipid levels were similar in the 3 groups. After 6 weeks, a significant reduction in TC levels (from 245.29 +/- 41.69 to 205.71 +/- 46.45; P=0.02) and in LDL-cholesterol levels (from 170.83 +/- 41.76 to 121.29 +/- 44.90; P=0.008) was observed in group E. In group B, total cholesterol (from 230.60 +/- 19.30 to 240.20 +/- 16.22; P=0.27) and LDL-cholesterol (from 139.60 +/- 21.49 to 154.40 +/- 9.66; P=0.06) showed no statistically significant variation, as in group C. No significant variation was observed in the HDL-cholesterol and triglyceride levels in the 3 groups throughout the study.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The eggplant extract with orange juice is not to be considered an alternative to statins in reducing serum levels of cholesterol.
authors.affiliation: Instituto do Coração, Hospital das Clínicas, USP. julipraca@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Juliana Marchiori
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Praça
authors.forename: Andréa
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Thomaz
authors.forename: Bruno
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Caramelli
mesh_terms: D000924:Anticholesteremic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001628:Beverages; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood*; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL / Q000097:blood; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL / Q000097:blood; D032084:Citrus sinensis; D005260:Female; D005638:Fruit; D006801:Humans; D006937:Hypercholesterolemia / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008055:Lipids / Q000097:blood; D008148:Lovastatin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008297:Male; D008517:Phytotherapy; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000627:therapeutic use; D028321:Plant Preparations / Q000627:therapeutic use; D032323:Solanum melongena; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D000924:Anticholesteremic Agents; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL; D008055:Lipids; D010936:Plant Extracts; D028321:Plant Preparations; D014280:Triglycerides; D002784:Cholesterol; D008148:Lovastatin