ABSTRACT

Processed and unprocessed Vernonia amygdalina and colorata were incorporated into diets of albino rats at S and 10 percentage levels. Forty five male albino rats, randomly assigned into nine groups of five rats each were fed with formulated diets for 28 days. Group A which served as the control received basal diet only while the others were experimental groups administered processed (PVA and PVC) and unprocessed Vernonia amygdalina (UPVA) and Vernonia colorata (UPVC) at 5 and 10%. Serum Triacyiglycerol concentrations (mg!loOml) decreased (p<0.05) significantly from 159.15 + 0.32 in the control group to 80.60 ± 0.78 in the group fed UPVA at 10%. Cholesterol concentrations (mgllooml) decreased significantly (p<0.05) from 195.3 1± 4.37 in the control group to 148.77 ± 1.88 in the group fed UPVC at 10%. LDL-Cholesterol and VLDL-Cholesterol values significantly (p<0.05) decreased from 101.69 ± 3.66 in the control to 23.16 ± 2.49 fed UPVC at 10% and from 31.83 ± 0.06 in the control group to 16.12 ± 0.16 fed UPVA at 10% respectively. A significant @<0.05) increase in HDL-Cholesterol concentrations from 61.79 ± 0.65 in the control group to 120.15±2.65 (mg/lOOm!) in the group fed PVC at 10%. Relative kidney and spleen weights increased from 5.81x10± 1.25 x iO4 in the control group to 7.02x10± 5.22 x 10 in the group fed UPVA at 10% and from 2.09x10± 2.33x10 in the control group to 3.64x10 ± 5.52 x10 fed PVC at 10% respectively. The intestinal weights also increased (p<0.05) significantly from 9.27 xl 0 2 ± 1.44 x i0 to 1.43 xl (f ± 2.06 xl 0 2 in the group fed UPVA at 5% of diet incorporation. There was a non-significant increase in the relative liver weights while body weights decreased (p<0.05) significantly at week four from 190.65g to 130.94g. These findings are indicative that Vernonia amygdalina and Vernonia colorata could have a positive modulatory effect on blood lipid profile by reducing blood levels of lipids with atherogenic potentials while increasing HDL that has a cardio-protective effect. It also suggests that feeding of the vegetable at 10% level of dietary incorporation could have significant effects on vital organs which need to be further investigated.