ABSTRACT

The prevalence of cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) has steadily been on the rise over the past three decades both in developed and developing world. Recent studies have shown the role of medicinal plants in the prevention and management of cardiovascular diseases. In this study the effect of concomitant administration of methanol extract of Vernonia colorata (MEVC) and high fat diet (HFD) and post hyperlipidaemic administration of MEYC on blood lipid profile in experimental animals was evaluated. Forty male albino rats were randomly assigned into eight groups of five rats each. Group A received the basal diet while Groups B and C received MEVC at 1000 mg/kg and 200 mg/kg body weight respectively. Groups D and H received HFD + DMSO4and HFD only respectively serving as control groups. Groups E and F were MEVC treated hyperlipidaemic groups. Group G was administered HFD + Orlistat. MEVC was orally administered concomitantly to animals receiving high fat diet and to hyperlipidaemic animals at 200 mg/kg and 1000 mg/kg for 10 weeks. After the last dose on the 70th day for each of the experiments, the animals were fasted over night and bled exhaustively by cardiac puncture. Appropriate statistical tools were used for data analysis. The results show that serum cholesterol concentrations (mg/100) decreased significantly (p<0.05) in group B (225.62 ± 30.24) and in group F (132.24 ± 27.96) relative group H (280.04 ± 33.73). Serum triacyiglycerol concentration (mg/100) significantly (p<0.05) decreased in group B (65.96±16.27) and in group E (144.03±25.95) relative to group H (194.80 ±36.61). LDL-Cholesterol values significantly (<0.05) decreased in the experimental groups (B and E) that received (64.96 ±41.09) and (62.78 ±21.32) relative to the H group (188.79 ±29.99). HDL-Cholesterol concentration increased significantly (p<0.05) in group B (174.52 ± 29.25) and group E (203.06 ± 11.49) relative to group H (54.77 ± 12.22). Relative heart weight significantly (o<0.05) increased from 3.26 x 10 ±3.9 x 10 to 3.5 x i0 ±10 in group B. There were no significant (p>O.05) increases in the relative liver kidney spleenic and intestinal weights and mean fasting blood sugar. Body weights of group B decreased significantly (v<z0.05) from 149.80g to 126.00g while body weights of animals in group B significantly (p<0.05) decreased from 178.18g to 137.69g. Body weights of animals in group H were 225.27g. All the test groups compared favourably with the Orlistat treated group. The findings from this study showed that MEVC at 200mg/kg and 1000mg/kg contain bioactive substances that can achieve positive modulatory effect on blood lipid profile by lowering levels of atherogenic lipids while improving cardio-protective function by increasing HDL- cholesterol concentration. Administration of MEVC did not have any toxic effect on the vital organs of the body.