ANTIOXIDANT AND ANTIHYPERLIPIDEMIC ACTIVITIES OF GONGRONEMA LATIFOLIUM BENTH ANDandCELOSIA ARGENTEA LINN LEAVES ON FAT INDUCED HYPERLIPIDEMIC RATS

Abstract

The present study investigated the antioxidant activities and antihyperlipidemic effects of varying levels of inclusion of processed green leafy vegetables (Gongronemalatifoliumand Celosia argentea) on high fat diet-induced hyperlipidemic rats. The antioxidant assay revealed that the unblanchedCelosia argenteahad higher total phenolic content, total flavonoid content, DPPH˙, ABTS˙+, OH˙ and NO˙ radical scavenging activities than the blanched Celosia argentea. Conversely, the blanched Gongronemalatifoliumhad higher antioxidant activities than the unblanchedGongronemalatifolium.Seventy-five (75) male albino rats of average weight180 ± 20 g were divided into fifteen (15) groups of five (5) animals each.The rats were fed for four weeks on diets specially formulated to contain 5%, 10% and 15% by weight of the leaves of the blanched and unblanched vegetables. Lipid profiles (TC: Total Cholesterol, TG: Triglycerides, LDL: Low Density Lipoproteins, VLDL: Very Low Density Lipoproteins and HDL: High Density Lipoproteins), liver enzyme markers (ALT: Alanine Aminotransferase and AST: Aspartate Aminotransferase), cardiac markers (LDH: Lactate Dehydrogenase and CK: Creatine Kinase), and oxidative stress indicators were evaluated. Histology of the heart tissues was also examined at the end of the study. The serum TC, TG, LDL and VLDL which significantly increased (p<0.0001) in hyperlipidemic control group were significantly decreased (p<0.05, 0.0001) at all levels of inclusion of the vegetal diets. HDL also increased significantly (p<0.0001) in groups fed with the vegetal diets. Also, ALT, AST, CK, LDH and TBARS activities significantly decreased (p<0.05, 0.0001) at all levels of inclusion of the vegetal diets. In addition, Glutathione peroxidase, reduced glutathione, catalase and superoxide dismutase activities significantly increased (p<0.05, 0.0001) at all levels of inclusion of the vegetal diets. Histological examination showed no pathological lesion at 15% inclusion of the vegetables. These results suggested that incorporation of Gongronemalatifoliumand Celosia argenteainto the diet may have therapeutic potentials in the management of hyperlipidemia and the associated complications. Keywords: Gongronemalatifolium, Celosia argentea, lipid profile, liver enzyme markers, cardiac enzyme markers, oxidative stress indicators, high-fat diet, hyperlipidemia, histology.