Effect of methanolic leaf extract of Talinum triangulare (Jacq). willd. on biochemical parameters in diet induced dyslipidemia wistar rats

Objective: To investigate the effect of methanolic leaf extract of Talinum triangulare on hematological parameters, enzymatic and non-enzymatic antioxidant status,and serum lipid in Wistar rats fed standard laboratory, or 2% cholesterol-enrich diet. Material and Methods: Wistar rats (180-210g) divided into six groups of six animals (males) each were fed 2% cholesterol-enriched diet and orally treated with 0.9% saline or extract of Talinum triangulare (250, 500, and 1000 mg/kg per body weight) daily for eight weeks. Lipid profile, lipid peroxidation (MDA), hematological parameters, and their functional indices and serum antioxidant enzymes (catalase, glutathione -S-transferase, and superoxide dismutase) activities and glutathione status were assessed in normal and diet-induced hypercholesterolemic extract treated rats and compared with the rats treated with 100 mg/kg per bwt standard drug gemfibrozil. Results: A significant (P < 0.05) increase in lipid profile (total glyceride, total cholestrol, low-density lipoprotein, and very low-density lipoprotein), MDA and reduction (P < 0.05) in enzymatic and nonenzymatic antioxidant status coupled with alterations in hematological parameters was observed in the serum of hypercholesterolemic rats when compared with animals on a normal diet. Coadministration of methanolic leaf extracts of Talinum triangulare or gemfibrozil significantly (P < 0.05) restored the elevated serum lipid profile, MDA, and the deranged hematological parameters to near normal. The extract also protected against hypercholesterolemic-induced diminished enzymatic and nonenzymatic antioxidant status. The activities of the plant extract are dose (250, 500, and 1000 mg/kg) dependent and it compared favorably with the standard drug gemfibrozil. Conclusion: The present study suggested that the extract of Talinum triangulare might protect against hypercholesterolemic-induced altered lipid profiles, oxidative stress, and also improve the status of antioxidant defense system and hematopoiesis. Abbreviation used: Lipid peroxidation (MDA), (catalase (CAT), glutathione-S-transferase (GST), superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione (GSH), Thrombocytes indices (PLT), Red blood cell (RBC), Packed cell volume (PVC), Mean corpuscular hemoglobin(MCH), Mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration (MCHC), Total glyceride (TG), Very low density lipoprotein (VLDL), Total cholesterol (TC), Low density lipoprotein (LDL), High density lipoprotein (HDL) and 3-Hydroxy-3-methyl