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  Background and Aim: Atherosclerosis is the main factor of mortality in cardiovascular patients. Pathogenesis dependence of atherosclerosis on the increase of low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-c) has been proved. Since using of existing chemical medicines for the treatment of cardiovascular diseases causes several side-effects, this has led to more tendency to using of herbs.

  According to some traditional medicinal references, Harmala seeds can be used as lowering blood lipids agents. The aim of the present study was to determine the effects of aqueous and ethanolic extracts of Harmala seeds on blood lipid profiles.

  Materials and Methods: In this experimental study 18 Wistar rats with the average weight of 300 g were used. The rats were randomly divided into three groups, i.e. two experimental and one control group. The experimental groups I and II were respectively gavaged 3cc liquid containing 100mg/kg body weight (bw) of aqueous and ethanolic extract of Harmala seeds for 30 days and group III, as a negative control, received an equal volume of distilled water for the same period. At the end , after deep anesthesia of the subjects with ether, the amount of blood lipids such as triglyceride (TG), total cholesterol (TC), LDL, and HDL were measured using test kits and the amount of VLDL cholesterol, too, was mathematically calculated.

  The obtained data was analyzed by means of SPSS software (v: 11.5), ANOVA and Tukey tests at the significant level P<0.05.

  Results: The findings showed that mean levels of LDL cholesterol in groups I, II, and control was 36.8±4.3, 35.8±4.3 and 44.3±4.6, respectively. Comparatively, the difference between experimental group I and the control (P=0.025) and also between group II and the control (P=0.012) were statistically significant. The other tested blood lipids in the experimental groups and the control group did not show a significant difference.

  Conclusion: It was found that consumption of Harmala seed can significantly reduce LDL cholesterol and the ethanolic extract of the herb is more effective than the aqueous one.