Dietary effect of some plants on liver functions and lipid profile in experimental animals

ABSTRACT

The effect of some plants on liver function and lipid profile was investigated. Fourty male albino rats, Sprague Dawley strain were used. The rats were divided into five groups of eight rats each with similar 156-158g.mean total weight. The rats were fed the experimental diets at 14% protein level with different types of tested plants [chicory, sonchus and moringa] for four weeks. Food and water were provided adlibitum. At the end of the experiment, rats were sacrificed under ether anesthesia and blood sample was taken from hepatic portal vein from each rat. Blood samples were subjected to the determination of serum and liver lipid profile, serum ALT, AST, ALP, MDA and erythrocyte-SOD .The results indicated that different types of tested plants had a great effect in all parametars studied. The lowest mean value for serum total lipids, triacylglycerols, total cholesterol and VLDL-cholesterol was found in group of rats fed high fat and high cholesterol diet [HFC. diet and moringa leaves] as compared with positive control group fed HFC. diet. But the lowest mean value for serum LDLcholesterol and highest mean value for serum HDL-cholesterol was found in group of rats fed [HFC diet and sonchus] as compared with positive control group. While lipid pattern in liver showed a significant decrease in group of rats fed [HFC diet and moringa leaves] as compared with positive control group and other plant groups. Also, the lowest mean value in serum ALT, AST, ALP and MDA was found in group of rats fed [HFC diet and sonchus], but the highest mean value in erythrocyte-SOD was found in group of rats fed [HFC diet and sonchus] as compared with positive control group