Abstract
The present study was designed to evaluate the hypolipidemic activity of
Tetracarpidium conophorum oil and its mechanism(s) of action. The
oil was extracted using the Soxhlet method and subjected to column
chromatography/spectroscopic techniques. GC-MS analysis was
performed on the oil to identify 15 constituents with
9,12,15-octadecatrienoic acid (ω-3 fatty acid or
α-linolenic acid) (68%) showing the highest
proportion. Isolation and purification of the oil gave three compounds,
namely, β-sitosterol, stigmasterol, and stearic acid
(octadecanoic acid). Thirty-five rats were used and divided into seven
groups for the in vivo hypolipidemic study. Findings from this study
showed significant decreases (p<0.05) in total cholesterol,
triglycerides, and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and an
increase in high-density lipoprotein cholesterol in rats fed a normal
diet and receiving T. conophorum oil (250 and
500 mg/kg body weight) for 20 days. But there were
significant increases (p<0.05) in total cholesterol, triglycerides,
low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, creatine kinase, lactate
dehydrogenase, aspartate amino transferase, malondialdehyde,
3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-coenzyme A reductase, and C-reactive protein
levels with a decline in the low-density lipoprotein cholesterol
level in rats fed the high cholesterol diet when compared to those fed a
normal diet. However, oral administration of T. conophorum oil and
atorvastatin for 20 days resulted in a significant lowering (p<0.05)
of triglycerides, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, creatine
kinase, lactate dehydrogenase, aspartate amino transferase, malondialdehyde,
3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-coenzyme A reductase, and C-reactive protein
levels with a rise in high-density lipoprotein cholesterol in rats
nourished with the high cholesterol diet. The study showed that T.
conophorum seed oil possesses hypolipidemic and cardioprotective
properties.
Key words
hyperlipidemia - African walnut -
Tetracarpidium conophorum
- Euphorbiaceae Cholesterol - gas chromatography-mass spectrometric technique