The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of water extracts of green tea, ginger, or a combination of both on serum and hepatic total cholesterol (TC), low density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL-c), high density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-c), triglycerides (TG), and total phospholipids in induced-hyperlipidemic Wistar albino rats. A group of 30 male albino rats was divided into two groups. The first group was fed a basal diet as a normal control (NC), while the second group was fed a hyperlipidemic diet for five weeks to induce hyperlipidemia. The latter group was then subdivided and administered a hyperlipidemic diet, or a hyperlipidemic diet supplemented with green tea extract, ginger extract, or both. In groups whose diets were supplemented with the extracts, we found that total body weight was reduced as compared to positive control (PC) animals. Likewise, a significant reduction in serum TC, LDL-c, TG, and total phospholipids was observed, accompanied by an increase in HDL-c levels. In the liver, a slight reduction in TC and TG was observed, though total phospholipid levels remained relatively similar. Importantly, we observed no synergism between the two extracts. Together, our data suggest that consumption of green tea or ginger could aid in the treatment of obesity and other diseases related to cardiovascular disease (CVD).
