Atherosclerosis is degeneration, hardening and loss of elasticity ,it includes accumulation of lipid, inflammatory cells, and fibrous tissue in the intima, which causes intimal thickening of large and mid-sized arteries. Oxidative stress plays a major role in initiation, propagation and rupture of atherosclerotic plaque. Glycyrrhiza glabra is an herb of Fabacea family which contain hypolipidemic compounds and flavonoids with high antioxidative properties. This study was conducted to determine the effect of Glycyrrhiza glabra extract on blood lipids and atherosclerosis in rabbits fed with high cholesterol diet.Results show that Glycyrrhiza glabra significantly decrease total cholesterol (TC), low- density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL) and triglyceride (TG) levels with increase in high- density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL), also it significantly decreases MDA level and increases serum GSH level. Hence Glycyrrhiza glabra extract has hypolipidemic and antioxidant effect.
