Table I.

Effect of A. aspera seed saponins on body mass index and body weight (means ± SEM) in rats fed with HCD along with 2% aqueous gum tragacanth solution after 28 days

Group	Description	Weight [g]			Body mass index
		Day 0	Day 14	Day 28	Day 0	Day 14	Day 28
A	Untreated control fed orally normal diet with 2% gum tragacanth solution (0.5 ml/kg body weight)	276.0 ±11.98	278.33 ±14.90	278 ±5.41	0.72	0.72	0.72
B	Negative control fed orally high cholesterol diet (HCD)	276.16 ±6.70	302.83 ±5.63#	321 ±5.46#	0.73	0.80#	0.83#
C	Receiving orally 50 mg/kg body weight of A. aspera seed saponins suspended in 2% gum tragacanth aqueous solution along with HCD	274.16 ±9.19	293.33 ±4.10*	290.83 ±4.40**	0.73	0.75*	0.75**
D	Receiving orally 75 mg/kg body weight of A. aspera seed saponins suspended in 2% gum tragacanth aqueous solution along with HCD	268.83 ±8.29	282.16 ±4.48**	287.17 ±7.15**	0.71	0.74**	0.74**
E	Receiving orally 100 mg/kg body weight of A. aspera seed saponins suspended in 2% gum tragacanth aqueous solution along with HCD	273.83 ±4.52	284.16 ±5.33**	286 ±8.48**	0.72	0.74**	0.74**
F	Receiving orally 125 mg/kg body weight of A. aspera seed saponins suspended in 2% gum tragacanth aqueous solution along with HCD	275.16 ±8.6	279.83 ±10.63**	276.17 ±6.2**	0.73	0.71**	0.71**
G	Receiving orally 150 mg/kg body weight of A. aspera seed saponins suspended in 2% gum tragacanth aqueous solution along with HCD	274.83 ±11.9	278.33 ±3.14**	274 ±4.86**	0.73	0.70**	0.70**
H	Treated orally with 8 mg/kg body weight of atorvastatin along with HCD	277.33 ±6.0	277.66 ±5.50**	278 ±4.2**	0.72	0.71**	0.72**

Data represented as mean ± SEM (n = 6).

^#p < 0.01 when compared with group A animals (normal control) receiving only normal diet with vehicle (2% gum tragacanth solution).

^*p < 0.05

^**p < 0.01 when compared with group B animals (negative control) receiving only high cholesterol diet with vehicle (2% gum tragacanth solution).