Phytochemical analysis and cholesterol lowering efficiency of Averrhoa carambola Linn (star fruit).

Scientific Study from the year 2017 in the subject Agrarian Studies, grade: 1.5, Mar Augusthinose College, course: Biochemistry, language: English, abstract: Aqueous extract of the fruit pulp of Averrhoa carambola (star fruit) were evaluated for cholesterol lowering effect, in vitro, against various fatty food materials. Peoples are consuming food items made out of chicken, beef, mutton, egg and fish which contains large amount of fat. This study aims to analyze the effect of Averrhoa carambola in reducing the cholesterol level in this fat compound using water extract of the pulp. For this fatty food samples like egg yolk, pork fat, chicken fat , ghee and cod liver oil were treated with the extract and cholesterol level was estimated by Zak's method for a period of time. Phytochemical constituents present in water extract of Averrhoa carambola Linn. pulp includes alkaloids, saponins, steroids, phlobatannins, carbohydrate, terpenoids, phenols, coumarins, flavonoids and leucoanthocyanins. The in vitro cholesterol lowering effect of Averrhoa carambola pulp extract shows a positive result on reducing chicken fat, ghee and egg yolk. But in case of cod liver oil no beneficial change was observed.

Dr. Prem Jose Vazhacharickal is currently working as an assistant professor in the Department of Biotechnology, Mar Augusthinose College, Ramapuram, Kerala, India. He received the research training and academic guidance from Prof. Dr. Andreas Buerkert, University of Kassel, Germany.