Anti-hyperlipidemic Effect, Growth Performance and in vivo Antioxidant Enhancements of Launaea taraxacifolia Leaf-based Diet in High-fat Diet-induced Hyperlipidemic Rats

The study investigated the anti-hyperlipidemic activity, in-vivo antioxidant and growth performance enhancements of Launaea taraxacifolia leaf-based diet at 6.25% , 12.5% and 25% inclusion levels in high-fat diet-induced hyperlipidemic rats. 36 female rats weighing 165.82 ± 2.10g were assigned into two groups: A (6) and B (30). Animals in group B were made hyperlipidemic by feeding on high-fat diet for six weeks and confirmed by assaying for lipid profile, body weight gain (BWG), body mass index (BMI) and hip circumference (HC). They were subsequently re-assigned into five groups: a non-treated group, an atorvastatin-treated group, and three groups treated with Launaea taraxacifolia leaf-based diets at inclusion levels of 6.25%, 12.5%, and 25%, respectively. All groups were maintained on their respective diets for six weeks. The feed intake (FI), BWG, BMI, HC, superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione reductase activity, malondialdehye (MDA), total cholesterol (TC) low density lipoprotein-Cholesterol (LDL-c), high density lipoprotein-Cholesterol (HDL-c), triglycerides (TG) and leptin concentration were determined using standard methods. The result revealed that high-fat diet significantly (p < 0.05) increased BWG, BMI as well as HC, MDA, TG, LDL and TC concentrations but decreased the leptin concentration and antioxidant enzymes activity however Launaea taraxacifolia leaf-based diet reversed the alterations caused by the high-fat diet. Overall, the results suggests that the leaf-based diet possesses anti-hyperlipidemic effect and therefore support its usage in folklore medicine. Keywords: High-fat Diet, Launaea taraxacifolia, Atorvastatin, Lipid Profile, Anti-hyperlipidemic activity