DefinePK

Abstract

Background and Objective Ricinodendron heudelotii seeds are widely used in Nigeria, West Africa as spices for various meals and also as a soupsauce thickener, it is also believed to have some therapeutic properties. The ethanol seed extract of Ricinodendron heudelotii was investigated for its lipidemic activity in hyperlipidemia-induced albino rats. Materials and Methods The rats were grouped into 6 of six rats per group. Five of these groups were fed with high fat diet. Three of the groups were thereafter treated with different concentrations of the extract. Rats fed with normal diet only and high fat diet without treatment were used as normal and negative controls, respectively while the positive control group was treated with a standard hyperlipidemic drug. Treatment was carried out for a period of 21 days, lipid profile assay was determined in blood obtained from the sacrificed rats. Results The hyperlipidemic rats showed an increase in weight compared to the normal control. The result obtained showed variations amongst the groups. An increase in the total cholesterol level was observed in all groups in comparison with the normal control group, the high density lipoprotein concentration was also observed to increase with a corresponding decrease in the low density lipoprotein. There was statistically no significant difference at the p0.05 between the test groups and the test controls, the total triglyceride level also increased across the test groups. Conclusion It can therefore be suggested that the ethanolic seed extract of Ricinodendron heudelotii has antihyperlipidemic potency in wistar albino rats, hence its use therapeutically.