The Effect of Bignay, Antidesma bunius (L.) Spreng., Leaf Extract on the Serum Lipid Profile of Male Albino Rats

Abstract

The effect of Antidesma bunius leaf extract supplementation on the serum lipid profile in normal and high-fat diet rats was studied to elucidate the potential antioxidant properties of bignay. The blood samples from the test rats were subjected to quantitative-enzymatic-colorimetric determination of lipids. Results showed that the A. bunius leaf extract has decreased the total cholesterol, low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) and triglyceride levels in rats given the high-fat diet. When compared to the rats given a high-fat diet alone, rats given the high-fat diet with A. bunius supplementation expressed a lower percent difference of LDL-C and triglyceride levels (24.61% and 9.92%, respectively) than rats given a normal diet with A. bunius supplementation with percent difference of 31.05% and 31.78%, respectively. The A. bunius extract is effective in lowering the levels of total cholesterol, LDL-C, and triglycerides whether the subject is on a normal or high fat diet. Interaction between rat diet and A. bunius supplementation showed a more direct antioxidant action on total cholesterol and LDL-C levels than the triglyceride levels. However, high density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-C) levels remained unchanged. The implications of these results show that the effects of hypercholesterolemia could be lessened or completely prevented with the supplementation of dietary derived plant antioxidants.