Atheromatous changes in cholesterol-fed rabbits treated with eggplant extract.

IT AVAS reported by Roffo that feeding dried eggplant (Solarium melongena L.), or injecting an alcoholic extract of the dried vegetable subeutaneously, caused a fall in the blood cholesterol levels of rabbits. The variation in the analytic values reported rendered the interpretation somewhat questionable. Later Herrmannfound that eggplant, although less effective than choline, methionine, or inositol, lowered the blood cholesterol levels when administered to hens or to hypercholesteremic patients. Roffo attributed this action of eggplant to its cholagogue action. Later both Noble and Trelles Duelo confirmed the claim that eggplant is a cholagogue. On the other hand, AVilkinson, Jackson, and AogeP in a test on 6 healthy male subjects, were unable to demonstrate any effect on serum cholesterol levels from feeding the dried equivalent of 180 to 360 6m. of fresh eggplant daily. In view of these conflicting findings and of the present interest in hypercholesteremia and its control, it was decided to reinvestigate this decholesterolizing action of eggplant.