Abstract

This study was undertaken to investigate the effect of the defatted seeds of Irvingia gabonensis (Irvingiaceae) on body weight, blood glucose and tissue and blood lipids in normolipidemic rats. Thirty rats weighing approximately 140g±5.2g were fed on standard diet and received oral administration of shea butter oil (Vitellaria paradoxa Gaertn.) at a dose of 4ml/Kg b.w for five weeks. Then blood lipids concentrations were measured and animals with the highest levels were chosen for the second step of experiment. Selected animals were divided into two groups seven rats each and treated as follows: Group I (control): shea butter oil and distilled water; Group II: shea butter and (400mg/kg b.w) defatted seeds powder. The effect on body weight, blood glucose, plasma-, liver- and fecal- lipids (cholesterol, triglyceride) was estimated. A single oral administration of the defatted seeds at a dose of 400mg/kg significantly induced a weight loss of 18. 34% (p<0.001), while that of the control group increased by 7.12% (p<0.01). Plasma total cholesterol (P<0.02), LDL (P<0.02), liver cholesterol (p<0.001) and triglyceride levels (p<0.01) were also significantly lower compared to controls, whereas the HDL cholesterol fraction increased significantly (P<0.02).

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