Research Article
Ibekwe, H. A, Adinya, I. B., O
Abstract
This study was designed to evaluate the effect of Garcinia kola diet and alkaloid extract on selected serum biochemical indices of coronary heart and liver functions with the view of ameliorating such conditions. A total of 30 male albino rats assigned into three groups of 10 rats each were used. Group I (control) received basal feed (vital growers mash) at 54g/kg body weight of rats. Group II and III received alkaloid extract and diet of Garcinia kola at doses of 100mg/kg and 54g/kg body weight respectively. The treatment was terminated after 28 days and the rats sacrificed. Blood was collected by cardiac puncture, spun at 5000 rpm for 5 minutes and serum collected was analyzed in the laboratory for the selected biochemical indices of coronary heart disease and liver function. The results obtained indicated that whereas crude alkaloid extract caused a significant (P<0.05) decrease in serum total cholesterol, low density lipoprotein cholesterol and triglyceride (2.00 +0.17, 0.30+ 0.08, 0.87+0.06, mmol/L) relative to control (2.90+ 0.30, 0.69+ 0.29 and 0.57+0.06 mmol/L) There was however no significant (P>0.05) changes in serum levels of HDL,LDL and triglyceride produced by Garcinia kola seed diet. Both alkaloid extract and diet produced a significant (p<0.05) reduction in Alanine Aminotransferase (8.00+2.00; 9.66+3.51 IU/L) relative to control (16.00+ 1.41 IU/L). While alkaloid extract produced significant (P<0.05) increase in AST, the diet caused non-significant (P>0.05) changes in AST & ALP. Therefore alkaloid extract may have a positive effect on the selected biochemical indices of coronary heart disease whereas the diet may not.