Importance of Herbs in the Treatment of Hyperlipidaemia

Herbal medicines are the oldest remedies known to mankind. Man’s dependence on plants for health care is as old as the civilization. Herbs had been used by all cultures throughout history but India has one of the oldest, richest and most diverse cultural living traditions associated with the use of medicinal plants. It is being globally recognized that medicinal plants play a significant role in providing health benefits to human beings. The World Health Organization (WHO) has estimated that 80% of the earth’s (6 billion) inhabitants rely upon traditional medicine for their primary health care needs and major part of this therapy involves the use of plant extracts or their active principles. Major Pharmaceutical companies are currently conducting extensive research on plant materials for their potential medicinal value. Hyperlipidaemia is widespread and common health problem now a day. Hyperlipidaemia is a major cause of atherosclerosis and atherosclerosis associated conditions, such as coronary heart disease (CHD), ischemic cerebrovascular disease, and peripheral vascular disease. Objective of the present review is to explore some of the medicinal plant and their phytoconstituents for their anti-hyperlipidaemic activity.