
Due to various reasons like abnormal and unusual food habits, life styles and stress of various nature and origin, hyperlipidemia has become a common feature of the world in general and of developed countries in particular. This problem is affecting the human health and working potential of a large population and also threatening the life of many. Large quantum of work has been carried out worldwide to overcome this problem of the potent hypolipidemic agent screened; many plants are of Indian origin. Hyperlipidemia causes atherosclerosis which is a major cause of death in the world. In India atherosclerosis is also becoming a major disease with changing life styles and increasing stresses. Population studies and clinical trials have shown a strong relation between hyperlipidemia and coronary heart diseases. An increased risk of coronary heart disease is associated with a high serum concentrations of total cholesterol low density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol and triglycerides.On the other hand, low serum concentration of high density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol is also responsible for coronary heart diseases.