Hypolipidaemic effects of Methanol Extract of Vernonia amygdalina Del in male Wistar albino rats fed High fat diet

Abstract

Obesity and its primary co‐morbidities are emerging as a serious health problem among urban dwellers in developing countries such as Nigeria, with class I obesity being the most common pattern and hypertension being the most common primary co‐morbidity. The study was aimed at assessing the effects of high‐fat diets and concomitant administration of methanol extracts of Vernonia amygdalina (Va) on body weight changes and lipid profile in male Wistar rats. Thirty male albino rats aged 4‐6 weeks old were placed in five groups of six animals each. Group 1 served as the control (Non high fat diet), Groups 2 and 3 received methanol extracts of Va at 50mg/kg and 100 mg/kg body weight respectively. Group 4 served as the positive control received orlistat (drug control). Group 5 received high fat diets only. After 12 weeks of feeding, Serum total cholesterol, Triacylglycerol, HDL‐cholesterol and LDL‐cholesterol concentrations were determined using standard biochemical methods. Daily body weight changes were also recorded.Results: There were significant (p<0.05) decreases in total cholesterol, triacylglycerol and LDL cholesterol concentrations in experimental rats who received extracts at 50mg/kg and 100mg/kg body weight relative to the obesity control fed on high fat diets. HDL‐cholesterol concentrations showed an insignificant (p>0.05) increase compared to the obesity control group fed high fat diets. These findings provide a preliminary scientific support for the use of extracts of Va in ethnomedicine as slimming bitters and in treatment of hypertension. Its inclusion in diet could serve as a dietary regimen in management of obesity and other disorders associated with hyperlipidaemia.