Project Materials

EFFECT OF Jathropha tanjorensis ON SERUM LIPID PROFILE OF WISTER ABINO RAT

ABSTRACT

Jathropha tanjorensis is a plant that has been utilised for medicinal and culinary purposes. This study looked at the phytochemical composition of Jatropha tanjorensis leaves and the effect of a methanolic extract on the serum lipid profile of albino wistar rats. The study used twenty-four (24) albino rats divided into four groups, each weighing between 90g and 120g. Group 1 served as the negative control, with no high fat diet and no treatment; Group 2 functioned as the positive control, with a high fat diet but no treatment. Groups 3 and 4 were fed a high-fat diet and given varied doses of methanolic leaf extract (250mg and 500mg) of Jatropha tanjorensis daily for 14 days. Terpenoids, saponins, cardiac glycosides, flavonoids, and tannins were found in the extract after phytochemical examination. The extract considerably reduced total and LDL cholesterol levels in rats (p<0.05), but did not significantly affect triglycerides or HDL cholesterol levels compared to the negative control. This study suggests that Jatropha tanjorensis leaf extract contains phytochemicals capable of decreasing blood cholesterol levels and may be effective in the treatment of hyperlipidemia-related cardiovascular illnesses.