ABSTRACT
The aim of this study was to evaluate the hypolipidaemic effect of oat bran in albino rats. To achieve this goal, two main experiments included 56 female Swiss rats were conducted. The first was Prophylactic experiment comprised of 24 rats in three groups as follows: Group 1: negative control, fed on normal diet, Group 2: positive control received hyperlipidaemic diet [HL-D] and Group 3: received daily HL-D along with oat bran at a dose of 2.70 g kg[-1] b.w. for 8 weeks. The second was Curative experiment comprised of 32 rats. Eight rats served as negative control [Group 1], and the other rats were subjected to the induction of experimental hyperlipidaemia for 4 weeks. Then the hyperlipidaemic rats were divided randomly into equal three groups as follows: Group 2: Hyperlipidaemic rats served as positive control for 4 weeks. Group 3: Hyperlipidaemic rats received oat bran at a daily dose of 2.70 g kg[-1] b.w. for 4 weeks Group 4: Hyperlipidaemic rats received a daily p.o dose of 3.6 mg kg[-1] b.w of simvastatin as reference drug for the same period. The results revealed that HLD supplementation increased plasma lipid profile [triglycerides, total cholesterol [T.C] and LDL], risk ratio [T.C/HDL and LDL/HDL], liver cholesterol, serum enzymes [aspartate aminotransferase [AST], alanine aminotransferase [ALT] and alkaline phosphatase [ALP]]. However, a daily administration of oat bran with HL-D was significantly able to suppress the lipotropic effects of HL-D in plasma and liver in both experiments. This study concluded that oat bran supplemented diet is an effective hypolipidaemic agent