Effects of Methanol Extract of Telfairia occidentalis Seed on Serum Lipid Profile, Biochemical and Antioxidant Activity in Female Wistar Rats

Aim: This study was designed to investigate the effects of oral administration of methanol extract of Telfairia occidentalis seed (METOS) on serum lipid profile, liver biochemical and antioxidant enzymes and lipid peroxidation.

Methodology: Twenty female Wistar rats (165-200 g) were randomly grouped evenly into four and treated as follows; Group A (control), Group B, C and D were administered orally with 20, 40 and 80 mg METOS/kg bw respectively for thirty days. Serum lipid profile, liver biochemical, and antioxidant enzymes activities and lipid peroxidation were analyzed.

Results: Serum cholesterol, low density lipoprotein and aspartate aminotransferase were reduced significantly in animals administered with 20, 40 and 80 mg METOS/kg bw compared with the control (P = 0.05), whereas, 40 and 80 mg METOS/ kg bw significantly increased serum triglyceride (mg/dl) (659.50±53.34, 652.63±29.13) and high density lipoprotein (mg/dl) (101.9±10.70, 112.00±6.40) relative to the control group (368.20±41.89), (63.3±2.82) (P = 0.05). Alanine aminotransferase (IU/L) reduced significantly in 40 and 80 mg METOS/kg bw (4.10±0.37, 3.63±0.33) compared with the control (6.60±0.80), while significant reduction in alkaline phosphatase (IU/L) was observed in 20 and 80 mg METOS/kg bw treated groups (3.60±0.82, 3.27±0.4) compared with the control (5.72±0.78) (P = 0.05). Catalase activity level (µ/mg tissue) was statistically increased in 20 and 80 mg METOS/kg bw groups (13.13±1.21, 9.64±1.75) compared with the control (4.56±1.57) and malondialdehyde level (nM/mg tissue) increased significantly in all METOS treated groups (0.05±0.001, 0.04±0.003, 0.08±0.002) compared with the control group (0.02±0.002) (P = 0.05).

Conclusion: In conclusion, the results of this study suggested that METOS has hypolipidemic effect which may further reduce the risk of cardiovascular diseases, it also has hepatoprotective effect and antioxidant activities which ameliorate its lipid peroxidation effect.