Hypocholesterolemic Effect of Smallanthus sonchifolius (Yacon) Methanolic Crude Extract on Serum and Liver in diet- induced hypercholesterolemia in male Mus musculus

Abstract

The study is designed to evaluate the effect of Smallanthus sonchifolius (Yaeon) Extract on serum and liver in diet- induced hypercholesterolemia male ICR mice. A group of 25 male albino mice were divided into five groups. Groups I and II as positive and negative control groups fed with high fat diet only and simvastatin plus HFD respectively. Treatment groups (III, IV and V) were fed on HFD and orally administered yacon crude extract (0.2, 0.4 and 0.6g/kg body weight/day, respectively). There is a significant increase (p< 0.05) in the level of cholesterol, LDL and triglyceride in groups III, IV and V. However, the positive control showed a decreased level of cholesterol, LDL and triglyceride compared to the negative control. These results supported the histopathology of liver showing depositions of fat globules around hepatocytes, intense degeneration of cells for the treatment groups. Moreover, the positive control group showed recovery and regeneration of the damaged liver cells and the degree of vascularization of liver lobules was also reduced compared to the negative control.