Effect of tender cluster bean pods (Cyamopsis tetragonoloba) on cholesterol levels in rats.

Tender cluster bean pod (Cyamopsis tetragonoloba) is a vegetable commonly consumed in South India and contains 20% of guar gum on dry weight basis. Effects of incorporating this vegetable into a hypercholesterolemic diet of rats were studied. All test materials--cluster bean 0.5 and 2.5% levels, commercial guar gum (0.5%), cluster bean partially free from guar gum (1.6%), neutral detergent fiber of cluster bean (0.6%)--exerted a hypocholesterolemic effect and also lowered liver cholesterol concentration, but did not alter liver weights. Neutral detergent fiber of cluster bean and guar gum lowered cholesterol levels, but the effect did not appear to be additive when these components were present together in the whole cluster bean.