Comparative effects of the leaves of Gongronema latifolium and Telfaira occidentalis incorporated diets on lipid profiles of rats.

Abstract

The hypolipidaemic effects of the leaves of Gongronema latifolium (GL) and Telfairia occidentalis(TO) diet preparations on the lipid profile of rats were compared. The rats were fed for 28 days on diet specially formulated to contain 5%, 15% and 30% by weight of the leaves of each plant respectively while the control groups were fed standard rat diet. The serum total cholesterol (TC), triacylglycerol (TG), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) and low- density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) were determined on blood samples collected on the 28th day. The results show that at equal concentrations that the TO diet preparation induced a significantly lower total cholesterol levels than the GL diet preparation. At the 5% treatments, GL produced a significantly lower serum TGs while at the 15% and 30% treatments there were no significant differences between the effects of the two vegetable diets. For LDL-C, the results show that GL induced a significantly lower LDL-C level relative to the TO diet preparation. The results show also indicate that TO induced a significantly higher serum HDL-C level when compared to GL at the 5% and 15% concentrations. The general results from the study suggest that both GL and TO diet preparations may have equal effects on the lipid profile of wistar rats.

KEY WORDS: Gongronema latifolium, Telfairia occidentalis, lipid profile.