Hypolipidemic potentials of methanol extracts of Vernonia colorata

Abstract

This study was designed to evaluate the effect of concomitant feeding of high fat diet (HFD) and administration of methanol extracts of Vernonia colorata (MEVC) on lipid profile and body weight changes in Wistar albino rats. Thirty male rats aged between 10-12 weeks were used for this study. Animals received food and water ad libitum. Graded doses of the extract were dissolved in Dimethyl sulphoxide (DMSO) and administered orally on a daily basis. Body weight was measured weekly while plasma lipid components were measured at the end of the study which lasted for 10 weeks. The findings of this study revealed that concomitant feeding of high fat diet and administration of methanol extracts of Vernonia colorata resulted in significantly (p<0.05) lower plasma triacylglycerol, cholesterol and LDL-cholesterol but higher HDL-cholesterol concentrations when compared to the high fat diet only and high fat diet + DMSO groups. The lipid lowering effects of methanol extracts of Vernonia colorata was similar to Orlistat. Administration of Vernonia colorata also resulted in dose-dependent decrease of 22.2% and 15.8% in body weight gain relative to 12.5% decrease in the Orlistat group. The findings of this study provide convincing evidence for the hypolipidemic and anti-obesity potentials of methanol extracts of Vernonia colorata. This suggests that the plant may be useful in weight loss regimen, attenuating dietary obesity and also serve as a potential drug lead in the search for natural products for the treatment of diseases associated with dyslipidemia.