HYPOCHOLESTEROLEMIC AND CARDIOPROTECTIVE POTENTIAL OF MURRAYA KOENIGII: MECHANISTIC INSIGHTS AND EXPERIMENTAL EVIDENCE

Hypercholesterolemia is a major modifiable risk factor for cardiovascular diseases (CVDs), which remain the leading cause of global mortality. While pharmaceutical lipid-lowering drugs such as statins are effective, long-term usage carries risks of side effects, drug interactions, and cost barriers. As global interest in plant-based therapeutics grows, Murraya koenigii (curry leaf) has attracted significant research attention due to its traditional use and emerging scientific evidence demonstrating lipid-regulating, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and hepatoprotective properties. This review comprehensively examines its botanical background, phytochemical composition, biochemical mechanisms of action, experimental and emerging clinical evidence, safety considerations, and future research directions to elucidate the mechanistic basis of its hypocholesterolemic and cardioprotective effects. Recent studies confirm significant lipid-lowering effects in animal models and molecular evidence of multi-target cardiovascular protection, although well-designed human clinical trials remain necessary to establish definitive therapeutic efficacy.