Analysis of serum lipid profiles of albino rat fed on processed tuber flours of Icacina senegalensis A. Juss (Icacinaceae)

Abstract

Background: This study was aimed at evaluating the cardiovascular changes following the oral administration of processed under-exploited plant tuber; Icacina senegalensis. Methods: The tubers were peeled, chopped, and soaked in water (1:3 w/v) for 3 days. After which, it was divided into two portions (SD and SB). SD portion was oven-dried at 40 0C for 2 days, SB portion was further boiled (1:3 w/v) for about an hour, then, strained and oven-dried at 400C for 2 days. The two portions were pulverized and formulated into SD10, SD20, SD30, SB10, SB20, and SB30 respectively. Forty- two albino Wistar rats were used for this experiment and these were divided into seven groups consisting of six rats each. Group one was fed with normal rat chow while groups 2 to 7 were fed with the formulated diets respectively. At the end of thirty days feeding experimental period, the total cholesterol (TC), HDL-cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol, VLDL-cholesterol, and Triglyceride (TG) were estimated Results: Serum lipoprotein concentrations and atherogenic index of graded doses of Soaked Dried, SD, and Soaked then boiled, SB, Icacina senegalensis tuber evaluated showed that rats fed with SD 20, SB 10, and SB 30 had higher High-Density Lipoprotein, HDL-c concentrations compared to that of the control group. Consequently, their Atherogenic Index ratios were 0.39, 0.58, and 0.61 respectively as compared to the control group value, 0.73, while rats fed with SD 10, SD 30, and SB 20 had ratios of 1.27, 3.15, and 5.39 respectively. Conclusions: Dietary inclusion of flours of soaked-dried and soaked-boiled Icacina senegalensis tubers at levels used in this study caused improvement in cardiovascular well-being in a rodent model.