Biochemical dynamics of hypocholesterolemic action of Balanites aegyptiaca fruit

Abstract

Whole and extracted pulps of Balanites aegyptiaca fruits were tested as a hypocholesterolemic agent using adult albino rats. Food intake, gain in body weight, food efficiency ratio and liver/body weight ratio were determined. The addition of 10% whole or extracted pulp to the diet at the expense of starch caused a highly significant decrease in the serum and liver cholesterol and serum protein levels when compared with a positive control (hypocholesterolemic diet). This means that the pulp contains a powerful hypocholesterolemic agent. Phytochemical screening of alcoholic extracts of pulp and kernel shows that sterols, terpenes and saponins are the predominant natural compounds in both pulp and kernel, while tannins, alkaloids and resins appear in slightly lower amounts. Serum glutamic-oxalacetic transaminase (SGOT) and serum glutamic-pyruvic transaminase (SGPT) activities were estimated before and after the addition of whole and extracted pulp. Both activities were inhibited by the hypocholesterolemic diets but the decreased values were higher than that of control animals.