ABSTRACT

In this study, the effect of feeding methanolic extract of Aframornum inelegueta  (alligator pepper) on the lipid profile of albino wistar rats was evaluated. Twenty (20) albino wistar rats were divided into four (5) groups of 4 rats each. The control group (Group I) were given food and water only while the test groups were given the ethanolic extract of Afrainoinuin melegueta orally. Group B rats received 100mg/kg/i 00g body weight of Afrainoinuin inelegueta morning and night Group C rats received 200mg/kg/I 00g body weight of Afrainomwn melegueta daily, while group D rats received 400mg/k/100g weight daily. The feeding regimen lasted for 28 days. After 28 days, blood samples were collected through cardiac puncture in heparinized tubes for biochemical assay profile. The results showed that HDL increased significantly (P<0.05) (53.61±0.20, 53.61±0.20) in the treatment groups (200mg/kg and 400mg/kg) when compared to the control group. (48.19±0.76), LDL decreased significantly (P<0.05) in all the treatment groups (15.49±2.78, 13.43±3.13, 12.75±5.05 ) when compared to the control(36.99±l.61), Cholesterol decreased significantly (P<0.05) (79.19±0.49, 75.78±0.74, 67.27±0.49) when compared to the control.(95.36±6.63), there was no significant difference in VLDL (P>0.05) (8.75±1.01, 13.20±4.00, 8.36±l.49)when compared to the control (10.19±1.12) and also there was no significant observed in triacyiglycerol (P>0.05) (43.77±5.08, 38.22±3.96, 34.30±7.36) in the treatment when compared to tile control (50.95+5.60). From the results of the phytochemical analysis, it showed that Afrainomuin inelegueta has a high content of saponin (26.67 ±0.54), and low moisture content (6.49 ±0.38) that suggests that the seed can be stored for a very long time. Therefore, consumption of Afrainomum inelegueta should be encouraged because it lowers the cholesterol level in the blood.