Effects of Fenugreek Supplement on Liver Enzymes Level in P-407 Induced Hyperlipidemia in Wistar Rats

Abstract

The global incident of hyperlipidemia associated with cardiovascular disorders leading to increased morbidity among individuals is alarming. Challenges of adverse effect of certain antihyperlipideamic drugs (statins, fibrates, bile acid sequestrant and cholesterol absorption inhibitors) their high cost and unavailability to the population particularly to those at the grass root. There is need to search for an alternative remedy with lesser side effect and more accessible among masses. Twenty (20) Wistar rats were divided into four groups n=5. Hyperlipidemia was induced using a single dose of P407 (1.5g/Kg) IP at the interval of three days. Group 1 served as the normal control, group 2 served as disease control (hyperlipidemic rats placed on normal diet), group 3 comprises of hyperlipidemic rats placed on Cholestyramine (0.26g/Kg) and group 4 comprises of hyperlipidemic rats placed on Fenugreek seed supplement (2.5%). After three weeks of treatment blood sample were collected via cardiac puncture from which serum was used for assessment of liver enzymes: alanine aminotransferase (ALT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST). Data generated were statistically analyzed. Results generated revealed a significant increase in AST and ALP levels in group 2 animals compared to their levels in group 1 and a significant decreased in the enzymes levels in group 4 animals when compared to the levels
in group 2. These results revealed a disarray of liver enzymes in the disease control group (group 2) while the pattern seen in the supplement- treated group was similar to that observed in the normal control group. These indicate that the supplement has a reversal like activity on distorted liver enzymes in P407 induced hyperlipidemic rats. The activity noticed could be associated with the actions of secondary metabolites of bioactive compounds content of the supplement as observed in the results of preliminary phytochemical screenings. Therefore, the supplement sub-served a hepatoprotective-like activity in the treated experimentalanimals. With further studies these observed effects may be refined to the applicable format in humans to manage liver disorder due to hyperlipidemia.