ABSTRACT
Husk tomato is uncommon season fruit in Egypt. It was analyzed to identify its nutrient constituents and investigate the possible effect to reduce the overweight and hyperlipedimia of albino rats. Thirty two male albino rats Sprague dawley strains were divided into four groups 8 rats each. The first group [negative control] fed standard diet and the second group was [positive control] hyperlipedimic rats fed standard diet only. The third group hyperlipedimic rats fed standard diet containing 5% of homogeneous pulp of husk tomato fruits and the fourth group hyperlipedimic rats fed standard diet containing 10% homogeneous pulp of husk tomato fruits. Food and water were provided ad libitum for 4 weeks. Rats were weighed twice weekly and food was recorded to estimate the food consumption. At the end of experiment the animals were sacrificed under ether anesthesia. Blood samples were taken from hepatic portal vein. Serum was separated and subjected to biochemical analysis. Liver was removed and washed in saline solution then dried using filter paper and weighed to estimate relative weight. The results showed that all constituents on dry base of Husk tomato fruits were higher than on fresh Husk tomato fruits. Potassium was the highest macro element. The micro element zinc was slightly higher than copper. Values of total carotenoids micro g/100 gm and L-Ascorbic acid mg/100gm were high. Significant reduction [p<0.01] in body weight gain was observed in groups of rats fed a diet containing 5% and 10% of husk tomato fruits compared with negative and positive control groups. The highest food intake was found in groups of rats fed standard diet with 5% husk tomato fruits. Relative weight of liver in groups of rats fed a diet containing 5% and 10% husk tomato fruits were nearly the same as negative control group while [positive control] was the highest relative weight of liver. Total cholesterol cleared reduction [p<0.01] in group of rats fed a diet containing 5% and 10% husk tomato fruits compared with hyperlipedimic rats [positive control] group while significantly higher [p<0.01] than negative control group. Group of rats fed a diet containing 10% husk tomato fruits was the lowest value of triglyceride compared with hyperlipedimic rats [positive control] while higher than negative control group with significant differences at [p<0.01]. Group of rats fed a standard diet containing 10% of husk tomato fruits showed the highest value of HDL-C compared with negative and positive control groups while showed the lowest value [p<0.01] in LDL-C and nearly the same as control group. Group of rats fed a standard diet containing 10% of husk tomato fruits showed the lowest value of VLDL-C compared with other groups. The lowest ratio of total cholesterol to LDL cholesterol was found in positive control group while the lowest ratio of LDL Cholesterol to HDL cholesterol was found in rats group received 10% husk tomato fruits