Hypolipidemic Activity of Extracts from Eriobotrya japonica and Olea europaea, Traditionally Used in the Greco-Arab Medicine in Maintaining Healthy Fat Levels in the Blood

Loquat (Eriobotrya japonica) and olive leaves (Olea europaea) were investigated for their safety, anti-oxidant, and anti-hypercholesterolemic properties. Therefore, a fixed combination of dry extracts of Eriobotrya japonica and Olea europaea was prepared into so called Cholevel tablets and tested for safety and efficacy in vitro and in vivo tests. No sign of toxicity (LDH-release) was observed in cultured human fibroblasts incubated with increasing concentrations of Cholevel. Similar results were seen in MTT assay in co-cultures of human hepatocytes and monocytes. In addition, a high level of safety was seen in rats with an LD50 of 17.3 g/kg. The extent of Lipid peroxidation in isolated human LDL fractions, rat liver homogenates, and ferrosulphate was substantial at low concentrations of Cholevel. Hypolipidemic properties were assessed in a double blinded- randomized clinical study carried out among 41 human volunteers with hyperlipidemia values. The volunteers were divided into three groups. They were asked to continue their usual diet and medications unchanged and were evaluated for efficacy and tolerability of Cholevel for 3 months. Group 1 included 12 of persons who were at a fixed dose of statins therapy without fully responding to their medications they consumed Cholevel tablets 1 x 3 daily. Group 2 included 20 volunteers who consumed only Cholevel tablets 1 x 3 daily. Group 3 (control group) included 9 volunteers who consumed placebo tablets 1 x 3 daily. Cholevel was well tolerated by all subjects and no side effects were reported. Cholesterol levels were significantly reduced in groups 1 and 2 by 24% and 14.3% after three months of Cholevel consumption, respectively. Parallel reductions in both LDL and triglycerides levels and increments in HDL levels were observed. Taken together, results demonstrate safety, tolerability and efficacy of Cholevel that seems to have dual inhibition on both the absorption and production of cholesterol.