ABSTRACT
The use of herbal medicines is on the increase globally, as an alternative to orthodox health care. This study investigated the effect of Paxherbal bitters on lipid profile and blood glucose of albino Wistar rats fed a high-fat diet. Thirty (30) male Wistar rats were randomly divided into 6 groups with 5 rats in each group. Group one which is the normal control group was given the normal diet and tap water. Group two was the negative control group fed with a high-fat diet and tap water. Group three was the positive control group fed a high-fat diet and Atorvastatin (0.55mg/kg) only. Group 4 to 6 where the experimental groups fed a high-fat diet and 3 doses of Paxherbal bitters (600, 1200 and 2300mg/kg) body weight of rat.
The study lasted for 6 weeks (42 days) following which the animals were anesthetized and blood samples collected for biochemical analysis. Lipid profile and fasting blood glucose level were determined using standard reagent kits and following the manufacturers’ instructions. The lipid profile result indicate that the Paxherbal bitters significantly reduced (p<0.05), the decrease in high density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol (56.8, 62.4 and 63.7mg/dl) compared to control group (64.40mg/df) significantly prevented the increase (p<0.05) in cholesterol (100,8, 95,9 and 91.2mg/dl), compared to its control group (100.40mg/dl) and low density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol (27.8, 18.5 and 12.6 mg/dl) and very low density lipoprotein (VLDL) cholesterol (16.2, 15.4 and 14.9 mg/dl) compared to its control group (40.78mg/dl). These effects were in a dose dependent manner. Generally speaking, the disruptions in lipid profile and blood glucose levels caused by a high-fat diet was significantly prevented (p<0.05) from happening in the rats fed with the drug and the bitters. This effect was also in a dose dependent manner.
High-fat diet induced dyslipidaemia and associated hyperglycemia has been associated with increased incidence of cardiovascular disease. This results of this study thereby implies that Paxpherbal bitters can be a good prophylactic agent for the prevention of high-fat diet induced cardiovascular diseases.
