Antihyperlipidemic Activity of Ethanolic Extract of Celery Leaves on Rats Rattus norvegicus

India has about 45000 plant species; while medicinal properties have been assigned to several thousand. Apium graveolens (Celery) belonging to family Apiaceae, used as a decorative herb in India in general and more particular in Punjab and Uttar Pradesh. Celery ischolar_mains, leaves, stem, oils and seeds are used for the therapeutic purpose in treating and preventing many diseases. In the present study the effect of celery on cholesterol induced rats was studied. Ethanolic extract of celery leaves was orally administered by post treatment at the dose level of 500mg/kg of body weight for 7^th, 14^th, 28^th and 56^th days respectively. Administration of cholesterol induced rats resulted in increased total cholesterol, triglycerides, LDL, VLDL and decreased the HDL cholesterol. Administration of celery extract resulted in HDL cholesterol increase and decrease in the total cholesterol, triglycerides, LDL and VLDL in duration dependent manner. The above finding proved that 56th day treatment of ethanolic extract of celery was found to have more protective effect on lipid profiles in cholesterol induced rats. The results of the above studies are discussed in the light of recent literature.