Background: Metabolic syndrome comprises of altered lipid, carbohydrates, and protein metabolism causing increase synthesis of reactive oxygen species (ROS) which interact with blood low density lipoprotein (LDL) particles. This interactive phenomenon develops coronary artery disease (CAD) causing hypertension, congestive cardiac failure, cardiac arrhythmias, and heart attack. Preventive measures for CAD include avoiding sedentary life style, cession of cigarette smoking, taking unhealthy bakery foods and taking hypolipidemic agents. In allopathy hypolipidemic agents include statins, fibrates, niacin and psyllium husk. Because these drugs have mild to severe adverse effects, medicinal herbs having hypolipidemic characteristics are replacing allopathic agents. Ginger is one of those medicinal herbs. We have tried to prove how much ginger can reduce LDL-C, TC, and body weight in hyperlipidemic patients. Our research work was single blind and placebo-controlled study. The study was conducted at National Hospital, Lahore, Pakistan from July to November 2016. 65 male, female hyperlipidemic patients were selected from the OPD of the Hospital. Their age range was 25 years to sixty years. Chain smokers, regular alcohol users, and patients suffering from any liver, kidney, and gastrointestinal illnesses were excluded from the study. They were divided equally ie 30 patients in each group. Group-I was tested group and Group-II was placebo group. Their baseline lipid profile, and body weight was determined in pathology laboratory of the hospital and was kept in their personal file. Serum TC (total cholesterol) by calorimetric (enzymic) method. Blood LDL-cholesterol was calculated by Friedwald formula5 ie; LDL-cholesterol = TC-(TG/5) + HDL-cholesterol. 30 patients of group-I were advised to take 5 grams ginger’s pasted-powder in divided doses for the period of three months. 30 patients of group-II were advised to take one capsule (placebo capsule filled with 30 mg of grinded wheat) 8 hourly daily for the period of three months. They were advised to come at hospital for follow up fortnightly. After three months therapy their lipid profile and body weight was redetermined by same method as above. Data were expressed as mean ± SD/SEM (standard deviation/ standard error of mean). Paired t-test was used to determine SS (statistical significance) in pre and post-treatment mean values. P-values greater than 0.05 were labeled as non-significant difference in two groups (pre-treatment and post treatment mean values). Lesser than 0.05 value (p-value) was considered as significant change in two groups. Lesser than 0.001 value was labeled as highly significant change in two groups (pre-treatment and post treatment groups).

Biotransformation in human body results accumulation of free radicals (reactive oxygen species or ROS). If patients LDL particles are more than normal in systemic circulation, get interacted with free radicals and form foamy cells; initial stage of coronary artery disease (CAD). Hyperlipidemia may be primary (genetic reason) or secondary which is acquired type of dyslipidemia. Free radicle formation in human body is very much normal phenomenon. Just reducing LDL or raising HDL may prevent interaction of LDL with reactive oxygen species (free radicals), escaping patient to develop CAD. Commonly used drugs in prophylaxis or treatment of dyslipidemia include statins (HMGCo-A reductase inhibitors), niacin, bile resins and fibric acids. There are alternative therapies for dyslipidemia including use of fibers, fruits, and vegetables. In Pakistan there are huge number of fruits and herbs which are getting popularity as hypolipidemic agents. One of the important fruit in Pakistan having hypolipidemic potential is JUJUBES (in urdu called Bair). In this study we have compared hypolipidemic effects of Bair with statin in hyperlipidemic patients. This study was conducted at Begum Jan hospital, Islamabad-Pakistan. Sixty hyperlipidemic patients were selected and divided in two groups. Their lipid profile (LP) was determined in the hospital and blood pressure (BP) was recorded at start of treatment. Group-1 was advised to take 10 mg tablet Rosuvastatin in divided doses, and group-2 was advised to use 500 mg Bair (JUJUBES) in divided times per day for the period of 2 months. RESULTS: after two months therapy their lipid profile and BP was re-determined and analyzed statistically by using SPSS version 22.00.01. It was observed that Rosuvastatin decreased systolic BP and LDL-c highly significantly (p-value < 0.001), while diastolic BP was reduced significantly (p-value <0.01) and HLD-c was increased significantly with p-value <0.01. In group-2 JUJUBES (Bair) reduced systolic BP and LDL-c significantly (p-value <0.01) but no significant changes were observed in diastolic BP and HDL-c in this group. CONCLUSION: It was concluded from the research study that Jujubes reduce LDL-c and systolic BP in hyperlipidemic patients, but lesser than statin group of antihyperlipidemic agents.