Effects of Traditional Thai Herbal Formulations in Patients with Obesity and Borderline Hyperlipidemia - A Preliminary Pilot Study

Abstract

Traditional Thai herbal medicine as an alternative treatment has a long history of usage and provides therapeutic options for dyslipidemia. This study aimed to demonstrate the effects of Thai herbal formulations including hypolipidemic and laxative formulations in patients with obesity and borderline hyperlipidemia. The major herbal constituents of hypolipidemic and laxative formulations were anthraquinones from Cassia fistula L. and anthocyanins and polyphenols from Hibiscus sabdariffa L., respectively. Pre-post pilot studies were conducted in patients with obesity (healthy volunteers aged 18-40 years old with body mass index (BMI) ≥ 30 kg/m 2 ) (n = 7) and borderline hyperlipidemia (adults aged 25-55 years old with one of the following factors related to dyslipidemia: LDL > 135 mg and < 190 mg/dL; HDL < 40 mg/dL; total cholesterol > 200 mg/dL; triglyceride > 150 mg/dL) (n = 6). All participants consumed two capsules of hypolipidemic formulation (1000 mg) twice daily after breakfast and dinner and 30 mL of laxative formulation twice weekly before bedtime for three months. Outcome measurements including body weight, BMI, waist and hip circumference, serum lipid parameters, toxicity tests were assessed at baseline and end of treatment. Hypolipidemic and laxative formulations slightly reduced total cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein levels and were safe in patients with obesity. Furthermore, both formulations significantly decreased lowdensity lipoprotein levels (p < 0.05), slightly reduced total cholesterol levels and were safe in patients with borderline hyperlipidemia. The findings revealed that traditional Thai herbal formulations significantly reduced low-density lipoprotein levels and were safe in patients with borderline hyperlipidemia.