Abstract

<p>The preference for high-fat diets has increased the risk of developing cardio-metabolic metabolic disorders. The aim of this study was to examine the effect of Justicia carnea (JC) leaf extract on plasma and fecal lipid profile [total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG), high density lipoprotein (HDL), low density lipoprotein (LDL)] in high-fat diet fed wistar rats. The study involved a total of thirty wistar rats separated into six groups of five rats each. Group 1 served as control while groups 2 to 6 were fed with high-fat diet (HFD) throughout the period of the experiment. Group 2 remained untreated, Groups 3, 4 and 5 received respectively 200mg/kg, 500mg/kg and 1000mg/kg of JC extract. Group 6 received 10mg/kg of simvastatin. The animals were fed with the extract for twenty-eight days and thereafter plasma and fecal samples were collected to determine the lipid profile. Daily administration of 200mg/kg of JC caused a significant reduction in the plasma levels of total cholesterol (TC) but significant increase in fecal total cholesterol (FTC). The higher doses also showed a similar pattern but not significantly. Administration of 500mg/kg of JC caused significant increase in plasma TG and HDL compared to the HFD only group. All three doses of JC caused significant reduction in LDL. Conclusively, the results from the present study suggest that JC could possess plasma lipid lowering property and also enhanced fecal excretion of cholesterol. This effect could be possibly due to decreased absorption of lipids and increased fecal excretion of lipids.</p>