proposed that the activity of liver fatty acid synthase could be influenced by the medicinal plants, leading to modified metabolism of lipids and lipoproteins. Asai and Miyazawa (2001) examined the effect of curcumin on lipid metabolism in rats fed a moderately high-fat diet. Results indicated that liver triacylglycerol and cholesterol concentrations were significantly lower in rats fed curcumin than in control animals. Plasma triacylglycerol in the very low-density lipoproteins fraction were also lower in curcumin fed rats. Hepatic acyl-CoA oxidase activity of the curcumin group was significantly higher than that of the control.