Atherogenic indices demonstrate the significant antilipidaemic and haematinic potentials of aqueous seed extracts from Syzygium aromaticum

The atherogenic indices of antilipidaemic and haematinic potentials of aqueous seed extract of Syzygium aromaticum were studied using Wistar rats. Seventy male rats weighing 70-75 g were grouped into seven of seven rats each. Group 1 (NFC1) served as normal control and were fed with rat-chow and water only. Groups 2-7 (NHFD2, HFD3, HFD4, HFD5, HFD6, HFD7) were fed with a high-fat-diet (HFD) composed of commercial rat-chow, butter, sugar and flour for 28 days to establish hyperlipidemia before treatment. A baseline lipogram test was carried out to evaluate the hyperlipidaemic status of experimental animals. NHFD2 did not receive any treatment and served as negative control. HFD3, HFD4, HFD5, HFD6 and HFD7 were treated with 500, 1000, 1500, 2000, 2500 mgkg-1 bodyweight aqueous seed extract of S. aromaticum respectively for 28 days. Haematology indices, liver function tests and lipid profile were investigated. Also, artherogenic indices were calculated. Baseline results showed an increase in lipid profile except for reduced high-density lipoprotein (HDL). Results from HFD3, HFD4, HFD5, HFD6 and HFD7 showed a significant increase (p0.05) in plasma cholesterol (123.83±2.85 mmol/L), triglyceride (135.76±8.89 mmol/L), low density lipoprotein (19.32±0.49 mmol/L), when compared to NHFD2. Atherogenic index of plasma and Castelli Risk Indices (CRI-I and CRI-II) showed that NHFD2 has elevated indix while HFD3, HFD4, HFD5, HFD6 and HFD7 groups have significantly reduced indices when compared to NHFD2. This implies that SAE treatment produced significant reductions, especially at 2500 mg/kg (p