The document discusses the role of alfalfa in treating high cholesterol. It defines alfalfa and outlines its chemical composition, which includes saponins. Saponins help lower cholesterol by interacting with bile acids to form extended micelles that enhance the removal of cholesterol from the body. While alfalfa can help lower cholesterol and has other pharmaceutical uses like treating diabetes, it should be avoided by certain groups like those with lupus, estrogen-sensitive cancers, or kidney problems due to risks of side effects.

1. Research of :Role of alfalfa in
curing hypercholesterolemia
Prepared by : Mohamed yusuf

2. Content
1. Introduction.
2. Definition of alfalfa.
3. Content of alfalfa.
4. Pharmaceutical uses of alfalfa .
5. Cure of cholesterol by alfalfa.
6. Saponins.
7. Hypocholesterolemic effect by saponins.
8. Other pharmaceutical uses for alfalfa.
9. Precautions of alfalfa.
10. Summary.

3. Definition of alfalfa
 Alfalfa (Medicago Sativa)
 Family: Legume (Leguminosesea)
 Common Names:
Buffalo herb
Lucerne
Purple medic
Habitat: North America, the Mediterranean region,
western Asia; foothills and mountain areas.

4. Composition of alfalfa
CHEMICAL COMPOSITION
Alkaloids Amino acids Anthocyanins
Asparagine Carbohydrates Chlorophyll
Coumestrol Crude fibers Enzymes
Estrogens Fatty acids Flavones
Fructose Lauric acid Malic acid
Malonic acid Medicagol Morphine
Myristic acid Oxalic acid Palmitic acid
Plant acids Quinic acid Salicylic acid
Saponins Sitosterol Stachydrine
Stigmasterol Sucrose Triacontane
Triacontanol Trigonelline Xylose

5. Pharmaceutical uses of alfalfa
Nutritional Support
Allergies
Diabetes
Menopausal Symptoms (e.g. Hot Flashes)
High Cholesterol

6. Cure of cholesterol by alfalfa
It depends on saponins that found
in alfalfa with high concentration.
Extensive human clinical research
has shown that:
plant sterols and plant sterol esters
substantially and consistently lower total blood
cholesterol levels by 6 - 10% and LDL (bad)
cholesterol by 8 - 15%.
Health organizations: suggest 2 g of
plant sterols as the optimum daily dosage.
Dosages higher than 3 g/d provide little
additional benefits, and are therefore not
recommended.

7. Saponins
Definition:
Saponins are steroid or triterpenoid glycosides, common in a large
number of plants and plant products that are important in human and animal
nutrition.
They derive their name from their ability to form stable, soap-like foams
in aqueous solutions.

8. Saponins
Structure:
Saponins consist of a sugar moiety usually containing
glucose, galactose, glucuronic acid , xylose , rhamnose or
methylpentose, glycosidically linked to a hydrophobic
aglycone (sapogenin) which may be triterpenoid or steroid
in nature.

9. Saponins
Types of saponins:
1-sterodial saponins :
consist of C-27 with 5 methyl
group .
Less distributed in nature .
Mainly used as precursor of sex
hormones & corticosteroids.

10. Saponins
2-triterpenoidal saponins:
Consist of C-30 .
Have pentacyclic skeleton with 8
methyl group.
Much distributed in nature
comparing to steroidal saponins.
Note :
Saponins are in immature plant ratio is
higher than mature plants in the
same species.

11. Hypocholesterolemic effect by saponins
Saponins &bile acids are both ampiphilic
compound , partly hydrophilic ,partly hydrophobic .in
aqueous solution individually they form small
micelles ,their hydrophobic triterpene or steroid
groups stacking together like small piles of coins .
when the two type are mixed their hydrophobic
groups interleave with each other in their stacks . the
steric and electrostatic constraints to the formation of
micelles are relieved and the stacks become greatly
extended , incorporating many hundreds of molecules
.

12. Hypocholesterolemic effect by saponins
a) Bile acid b) saponins
c)micelles ( bile acid & saponins)

13. Hypocholesterolemic effect by
saponins

14. Hypocholesterolemic effect by plant sterol
Reduction in LDL-Cholesterol Levels with Plant Sterol
Consumption:

15. Other pharmaceutical for
alfalfa
1. Alfalfa has antibiotic properties:
The saponins in alfalfa have been shown to be
antifungal. This activity is concentrated mainly in
the medicagenic acid fraction. Alfalfa has shown
some activity against tuberculosis bacteria, while
aqueous and volatile extracts of alfalfa are
antibacterial against gram negative bacteria.

16. 2.Alfalfa contains vitamin K, an
antihemolytic agent.
Vitamin K is found in many green leafy plants, but is
especially abundant in alfalfa. The herb has therefore
been effectively used in treatment of vitamin K
disorders in man. When the delivery of bile to the
bowel is hindered, as in obstructive jaundice or biliary
fistula, a bleeding disorder may arise. Other bleeding
disorders may result from the use of artificial
formulas to feed newborns, protracted antibiotic
therapy, pancreatic insufficiency, chronic diarrhea
and steatorrhea, and from the misuse of
anticoagulants, aspirin, and anticonvulsant drugs

17. 3. Menopausal symptoms
Alfalfa contains coumestans, which are
phytoestrogens. For this reason, alfalfa has been
examined in laboratory studies for menopausal
symptoms

18. Precautions of uses alfalfa
1. Alfalfa, in its various forms, may present some
health risks. Powdered alfalfa herb, alfalfa sprouts,
and alfalfa seeds all contain L- Canavanine , a
substance that may cause abnormal blood cell
counts, spleen enlargement, or recurrence of lupus
in patients with controlled disease.
Note:
However, heating alfalfa may correct this problem.

19. Precautions of uses alfalfa
2.Pregnant or nursing women, young children, or
people with estrogen sensitive cancers should also
avoid alfalfa because of its possible estrogenic effects.

20. Precautions of uses alfalfa
3.Alfalfa has a high potassium content. People with
chronic kidney insufficiency, hypoaldosteronism, or
who are using potassium-altering medications should
avoid alfalfa to avoid the risk of potentially life-
threatening hyperkalemia (too much potassium in the
blood).

21. summary
Alfalfa is a good source of saponins for curing
hypercholesterolemia .
Alfalfa has another pharmaceutical uses for
diseases like (Diabetes).
Alfalfa not recommended for some people who has :
1) lupus or lupus history.
2) who has sensitivity from estrogen.
3) people who have problem in kidney.

22. Reference
 Sidhu,G,S; Oakenfull,D,G (1986) A mechanism for
the hypocholesterolaemic activity of saponins.
British J.of nutrition , 55 : 643 – 649.
 Francis,G;Kerem,Z ; Makkar,s,p,h and Becker,
Klaus(2002). The biological action of saponins in
animal systems: a review. British Journal of
Nutrition,88:587-605.

23. wisdom
Not all we eat is useful for us but we didn’t think
before that there is a lot of benefits in other plants
that “ALLAH” give us but we don’t use it.