Extracts of Cyclanthera pedata and formulations and uses thereof

A pharmaceutical composition for lowering serum cholesterol comprising an effective amount of a solid-form Cyclanthera Pedata extract and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier, wherein the extract is obtained by the steps of:

• (a) immersing fresh fruit from a Cyclanthera Pedata plant in an aqueous solution containing peracetic acid for a period of time of about 2 minutes to 10 minutes,
• (b) cutting the fruit into strips and removing the seeds and mucilage from said strips,
• (c) drying the seedless strips at a temperature between 10° C. and 80° C.,
• (d) milling the dried strips to produce particles having a size of about 2-10 mm,
• (e) extracting the milled particles by immersing them in ethanol and performing an extraction process selected from the group consisting of:
• maceration, ultrasound-assisted extraction, microwave-assisted extraction, percolation, Soxhlet extraction, pressurized solvent extraction, extraction under reflux, countercurrent extraction and steam distillation, for a period of time of about 30 minutes to about 15 days to obtain a liquid extract,
• (f) concentrating the liquid extract from step (e) to between 20% to 80% solids, and
• (g) absorbing the concentrated extract in a microcrystalline cellulose matrix to yield the Cyclanthera Pedata in solid form.