[Effect of Cannabis sativa L. [Isfahan variety] powder on serum lipid profile in male rats]

ABSTRACT

Hemp is considered a nutritional and narcotic plant; whole hempseed has almost 3% saturated fatty acids and 28% unsaturated fatty acids. This study aimed at evaluating the effect of hempseed on lipid profiles of male rats. After acclimatization, at the beginning of the experiment [day 0] animal feeding was stopped and after 14h fasting the animal was anesthetized by ketamine/xylazine combination and 2ml a heart sample blood was taken. The rats were fed normal diet [modified AIN-93M pellet] and 5g/Kg of hempseed powder solution [HPS 40%] via gavages daily for 30 days and at the end of experiment [day 31] blood samples were taken again. The lipid parameters were measured by enzymatic-colorimetric techniques. In spite of omega 3, omega 6 unsaturated fatty acids that are highly present in hempseed, short term hempseed feeding of hempseed additive in male rats did not improve lipid profile the mean fasting serum triglyceride, total cholesterol, LDL-C levels increased, while the mean fasting HDL-C decreased. In fact, no [p<0.05] statistical significant changes were observed in levels of the above mentioned parameters. Obviously the Isfahanian variety of the Cannabis plant has high content of an orexigenic, narcotic component [Tetrahydrocannabinol THC], which does not alter the lipid profiles of rats; if used over a long time it may lead to development of dyslipidemia