Abstract:
Metabolic syndrome (MS) has become a globally prevalent disease state, leading to
mortality. Plants are a reservoir of compounds that have therapeutic potential and have
been proven to be effective in management of a wide range of human and animal
diseases. This study therefore, evaluated the effect of diet formulations of Cnidoscolus
aconitifolius leaf (CAL), Gongronema latifolium leaf (GLL), and Moringa oleifera leaf
(MOL) on some biochemical parameters of experimentally-induced MS in male albino
rats. Forty-eight (48) adult male rats of 180-210 g body weight, were separated
randomly into eight groups (1 – 8) comprising six rats each. Group 1 was maintained
on normal diet. MS was induced in Groups 2 – 8 rats for eight weeks by high fat high
carbohydrate (HFHC) diet. Afterwards, group 2 was fed normal rat diet (untreated),
while groups 3 to 8 received diets formulated with GLL, CAL, MOL (100g per kg of
diet) for eight weeks. Obesity indices, serum lipid profile, liver marker enzymes and
antioxidant status were evaluated using standard methods. Significant (p < 0.05)
decrease in body weight gain, total cholesterol and triacylglycerols of the treated rats
were observed, while high density lipoprotein significantly (p < 0.05) increased
compared to the untreated group. Superoxide dismutase and catalase activities
significantly (p < 0.05) increased in the treatment groups. Treatment with the herbs
showed mild Kupffer cell activation reversing periportal hepatitis induced by the
HFHC diet. Results from the study indicate that CAL, GLL and MOL have therapeutic
potentials that could be useful in managing components of MS.
