Abstract
The effect of aqueous extract of the leaves of Chromolaena odorata on body weight, organ sizes, lipid profiles and atherogenic indices was investigated in normal and sub-chronic salt-loaded rats. The normal and treatment control groups were fed 100% of commercial feed, while the test control, reference and test treatment groups received an 8% salt-loaded diet. The extract (at 100 and 200 mg/kg body weight) and moduretics (at 1 mg/kg body weight) were orally administered daily. The normal and test control groups orally received appropriate volumes of water. The extract was screened for bioactive components using gas chromatography-coupled-flame ionization detector. The main glycosides, saponins, allicins, alkaloids, benzoic acid derivatives, terpenes and lignans detected were arbutin, avenacin B-1 (and avenacin A-1), diallyl thiosulphinate, lupanine, ferulic acid (and vanillic acid), limonene and retusin, respectively. Compared to test control, the extract dose-dependently, significantly (P 0.05) lowered the heart size, plasma levels of triglyceride, total density lipoprotein, very low density lipoprotein, low density lipoprotein and non-high density lipoprotein cholesterol and atherogenic indices (cardiac risk ratio, atherogenic coefficient and atherogenic index of plasma). It also significantly increased plasma high density lipoprotein level. These results suggest a protective mechanism of the extract against hypertension induced cardiomegaly and dyslipidemia, thus suggesting that this may underlie its antihypertensive action.
Highlights
Dyslipidemia and cardiomegaly or cardiac hypertrophy often accompany hypertension and are among the risk factors for the development of cardiovascular disease [1,2]
With the concomitant modifications of membrane properties [4], which, in cells participating in cardiovascular regulation, might be a part of pathogenetic mechanisms responsible for chronic elevation of blood pressure [5] and alterations in the vascular system leading to vessel damage [6]
The lowering of cholesterol concentrations in individuals at high risk of cardiovascular disease improves outcome [7], any pharmacological intervention that improves or normalizes abnormal lipid metabolism may be useful for reducing the risk of cardiovascular complications in the hypertensive
Summary
Dyslipidemia and cardiomegaly or cardiac hypertrophy often accompany hypertension and are among the risk factors for the development of cardiovascular disease [1,2]. Dyslipidemia, a disorder of lipoprotein metabolism in the form of either lipoprotein overproduction or deficiency, may be expressed as increased serum total cholesterol, low density lipoprotein cholesterol and/or triglycerides, a decrease in high density lipoprotein cholesterol concentration, or various combinations of these [3]. It usually results in altered membrane micro-viscosity,. Consequent upon this, the present study undertook the investigation of the effect of aqueous extract of the leaves on the body weight, organ sizes, lipid profiles and atherogenic indices of normal and sub-chronic salt-loaded Wistar rats
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