Effect Of Dietary Incorporation Of Pennisetum Purpureum On Plasma-Cholesterol And Plasma Protein In An Experimental Wistar Albino Rat Model

ABSTRACT

Sixteen wistar albino rats were randomly grouped into four groups. Group I was placed on control diet while groups II, III and IV were placed on 10%, 20% and 40% Pennietum purpurem supplemented diet for a period of 12 days. Penni -etum purpureum supplementation at 10%, 20% and 40% resulted in body weight loss of 7.63 ± 10.24, 8.58 ±4.52 and 22.12 ± 9.94 respectively; the control animals also had a body weight loss of 1.08 ± 7.16. Mean relative liver weight of animals decreased at 10% and 20% supplementation while it increased at 40% supplementation. Mean relative kidney weight (g/g) was 0.0121 ± 0.0047, 0.0089 ± 0.0011, 0.0091 ± 0.0006 and 0.0698 ± 0.0012 for groups I, II, III and IV respectively. Plasma protein (mg/mi) decreased from 7.16 68± 2.10 in the control group to 6.78 ± 0.15, 6.8 ± 1.08, and 5.35 ± 1.45 in groups II, III & IV respectively. Serum cholesterol (mg/dl) increased from 89.73 ±5.78 in the control • (group I) to 95. 68 ± 16.13, 92.33 ± 0.38 and 106.48 ± 19.01 for groups II, III & IV respectively. Our findings indicate that the feeding of Pennisetum purpureum resuled in increase in serum cholesterol.