Effect of malunggay (Moringa oleifera) seed oil extract on blood serum lipid profiles of hypercholesterolemic rabbits

Abstract

This study was conducted to determine the effect of malunggay seed oil extract on blood serum total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TG), high-density (HDL) and low-density (LDL) lipoproteins of hypercholesterolemic rabbits. Approximately 300 grams of malunggay seeds were sundried and powdered for the preparation of the extract. The powdered sample was mixed with 95% ethanol (b.p. 76-78 oc) in a soxhlet apparatus and the oil was obtained by recovery of the solvent using simple distillation. For the experiment, ten male rabbits (0.45 - 1.29 kg) of mixed breed were fed with a non-purified hypercholesterolemic diet (HCD) containing 94% chicken pellets, 5% coconut oil, and 1% beef tallow (wt/wt) for four weeks at 4% of their body weight. The rabbits were then randomly divided into two groups. The first group were maintained on additional four weeks, while the second group were fed with 30-mg/kg/d malunggay seed oil extract for four weeks. Blood samples were then taken and analyzed for TC, TG, HDL and LDL before and after the treatment. The mean difference of each lipid profile was taken for the two groups and analyzed using the Wilcoxon Signed Ranks Test using SPSS Statistical Program. Results showed that there were significant differences in the mean difference of serum total cholesterol level in the second (treated) group at P =0.05. However, triglyceride, high-density and low-density lipoprotein levels did not differ in the same group. On the other hand, the mean difference of the lipid profiles in the first group (control) did not differ significantly. This study showed that malunggay seed oil extract can lower total cholesterol levels in animals fed with hypercholesterolemic diets. Further study is advised to determine the minimum effective dosage o the extract to rabbits and other animals including humans.