Hypocholesterolemic effect of amaranth seeds (Amaranthus esculantus).

Hypocholesterolemic effect of amaranth seeds was studied in male wistar strain albino rats as against Bengal gram. The results showed that liver weights were significantly higher in animals with hypercholesterolemia inducing diet. Contrarily, weights of other organs like brain, kidney, testes and spleen showed higher weights with amaranth and bengal gram diets. Serum lipid and TG (triglyceride) contents were lower and HDL-cholesterol fraction was higher and comparable with amaranth seed diet. Feeding with amaranth seed showed a definite hypocholesterolemic effect.