Effect of Aqueous Extract of <i>Piper nigrum</i> and Zingiber officinale on the</i> Serum Cholesterol and Triacylglycerol Concentrations of Albino Rats

Abstract

The effects of aqueous extracts of Piper nigrum fruits and Zingiber officinale rhizomes on the serum cholesterol and triacylglycerol  concentrations of rats were investigated. Phytochemical analyses were also carried out on the extracts. Sixteen male rats, randomly  distributed into 4 groups (A-D) of 4 rats each, were orally administered with the extracts daily for 21days. The groups A-C animals were  administered with P. nigrum, Z. officinale and P. nigrum + Z. officinale at 400 mg/kg body weights respectively, while group D served as  the control. Flavonoids, saponins, terpenes and steroids were found present in both plants with alkaloids not present in any of them. The  results showed that the aqueous extracts of both plants significantly (p < 0.05) reduced the serum cholesterol and triacylglycerol  concentrations of the animals. A 1:1 mixture of the plants’ extracts significantly (p < 0.05) reduced the concentrations of these serum  lipids more than individual treatments using the plants. These findings indicate that the use of extracts of both plants together  synergistically enhanced their serum lipid lowering potentials. The findings could be of nutritional and clinical importance to individuals  at risk of cardiovascular disease.