COMPARATIVE EFFECT OF AFRICAN EGGPLANT (Solanum anguivi), PALM FRUIT AND PALM KERNEL (Elaeis guineensis) OILS ON BIOCHEMICAL INDICES OF MALE ALBINO RATS

Abstract

Palm oil and palm kernel oil are edible vegetable oils obtained from the fruit of the oil palm tree. They have applications in food manufacturing and in the chemical, cosmetic and pharmaceutical industries. African eggplant (Solanum anguivi) extract is a potential source of natural antioxidants and oil; they are widely distributed in the arid region of African. This study was aimed at evaluating the lipid bioactive components of Solanum anguivi oil (SO) extract, in comparison to palm oil (PO), and palm kernel oil (PKO) and also to determine their impact on biochemical parameters in selected tissues of albino rats. Oil from the seeds of Solanum anguivi was extracted in a Soxhlet apparatus (Cehmglass) for 8 h using propan-2-ol as solvent, While Palm oil and palm kernel oil were obtained from a local market. Thirty two male albino rats weighing 200-220g were divided into four groups. Each group was fed with 10% (PO), 10% (PKO), and 10% (SO) extract respectively, while the remaining group serve as the control was given feed and water ad libitum. Incorporating the oil samples at 10g per 90g of feed increased the lipid and energy contents of the feeds. The activity of SO on liver markers (AST, ALT, ALP) revealed its ameliorative potential against liver damage since it decreases significantly (p<0.5) as compared to the control, PKO and PO. The concentration of SO on GGT marker was significantly (p<0.5) lower than the PC, PO and PKO, which indicates it can be used in the treatment of cardiovascular disease. Serum high density lipoprotein (HDL) concentration had the highest value for PKO, there was no significant difference between the control and PKO groups, PO and SO group had almost the same concentration for high density lipoprotein. In the plasma, SO has the highest HDL (p<0.5) level. The ratio of omega6:omega 3 values was higher for SO than PO and PKO in this research and this suggest SO as having inflammation suppressing activity and may be used as a delivery vehicle (liposome) in pharmaceutical industries.