Effects of Afromomum melegueta, Zingiber officinale and Piper nigrum on Some Biochemical and Haematological Parameters in Rats Fed with High Lipid Diet

Abstract

Overweight and obesity are two conditions which are preventable. Their fundamental causes are energy imbalance between calories consumed and calories expended. In this study, thirty two albino rats of average weight 165±15 g were assigned into eight groups and the effects of three spices; Afromomum melegueta (AM), Zingiber officinale (ZO) and Piper nigrum (PN),on rats fed with High Lipid Diet (HLD) were investigated. Rats fed with HLD without treatment showed significant increase (p<0.05) in body weight and levels of Total Cholesterol (CHOL), Low Density Lipoprotein (LDL) and Triglyceride (TG) when compared to the control rats. Whereas, these significant increases were not observed in rats fed with HLD treated with aqueous extracts of AM, ZO and PN at 400 mg/kg b.wt. for 21 days. Extracts also improved the lipid profile of Normal Diet (ND)-fedcompared to the untreated HLD-fed rats. All extracts had no significant effects (p>0.05) on T-protein and albumin while a significant decrease was observed in % Packed Cell Volume (PCV) and White Blood Cell (WBC) count of all groups when compared to the control except for HLD-fed rats treated with ZO which showed no significant change in its level of PCV. All extracts improved the Atherogenic index (AI) of treated rats. The study therefore revel that aqueous extracts of AM, ZO and PN can be used in weight management as well as in improvement of lipid profile