Abstract:
Four types of the most common paJrnyrah fruit pulp (Borassusflabel/ifer L) were
chosen on the basis of morphology of fruit. On feeding to ICR (Institute of Cancer
Research) mice at 10% level all types of pulp lowered total cholesterol in ICR mice
by 24 - 34 % relative to control. Total cholesterol was lower in all types. The p
values of total serum cholesterol were: 0.04,0.02,0.0035,0.0007 for type 1,II, III,
IV respectively. The effect on HDL cholesterol was widely different for the 4 types
of pulp. The mechanism of lowering of cholesterol appears complex, probably
involving: dietary fibre, flabeUiferin profile and content and perhaps other factors.
The well-known cholesterol reducing agents in plants, which are the free
phytosterols, are not present in palmyrah fruit pulp.
