Hypolipidemic Effect of Methanol Leaf Extracts of Telfaira Occidentalis and Jantropha Tanjorensis in Hyperlipidemic Albino Rats and Nutraceutical Potential of the Vegetables
Abstract
Vegetables remain a source of active secondary metabolites, nutrients and natural therapeutic agents. The study compared the hypolipidemic effects of methanol leaf extracts of Jatropha tanjorensis and Telfaira occidentalis with their nutraceutical potential. Hyperlipidemia was induced in albino rats using an atherogenic diet after 7 days of acclimatisation. Twenty-eight (28) albino rats were divided into five groups of four rats each. Group I (normal control), Groups II (negative control, induced and untreated), Group III (positive control, treated with standard drug), while Groups IV and V were administered 250 and 500 mg/kg of methanol leaf extract of Jatropha tanjorensis and Telfaira occidentalis daily for 14 days. The results showed significant variation between Jatropha tanjorensis and Telfaira occidentalis extracts. The serum lipid profile indicated a decrease in total cholesterol (TC) and triacylglycerides (TAG) (P < 0.05). Also, the serum levels of LDL- and HDL-cholesterols were significantly increased as compared to the negative control (P <0.05). The quantitative analysis indicated the presence of saponins, tannins, alkaloids, flavonoids, volatile oils and cardiac glycosides. Quantitatively, the result revealed that alkaloids (10.15±0.01) and flavonoids (11.13±0.02) were significantly more (P <0.05) in Jatropha tanjorensis compared to Telfaira occidentalis (2.35±0.01) and (7.00±0.01), respectively. The mineral analysis has shown that Jatropha tanjorensis contained more sodium and potassium. And Telfaira occidentalis showed higher levels of iron, copper and calcium. The proximate composition showed differences in fibre, protein, ash, lipid and carbohydrates (P > 0.05). In conclusion, the hypolipidemic effect of these vegetables was attributed to the presence of active phytochemicals and essential minerals for normal enzyme activities.