Acalypha wilkesiana Leaf Extracts Influence Heart Disease Risk Factors in 1,2-Dimethylhydrazine (DMH)-induced Rats

Abstract

Blood is pumped to all parts of the body by the heart muscle to provide oxygen, nutrients, and remove waste products. This is a foundational study to investigate the influence of ethanol leaf extract of Acalypha wilkesiana on some serum markers which are risk factors of heart disease, in 1,2-dimenthyhydrazine (DMH)-induced rats. Male albino rats were divided into six groups (A to F) of five rats each. Group A was control while rats in groups B to F were subcutaneously injected with DMH at 40 mg/kg body weight thrice a week for 6 weeks. Group B rats served as DMH control; group C had Xeloda for 6 weeks and groups D to F had graded doses (200, 400 and 800 mg/kg body weight) of the extract orally for 6 weeks. DMH treatment recorded significant increases in LDL-cholesterol, cholesterol, and VLDL-cholesterol and decrease in triglycerides and HDL-cholesterol when compared with control. Doses of the leaf extract recorded significant dose-dependent elevation of cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol and triglycerides but reduction in LDL-cholesterol, glucose and total protein when compared with DMH control. Xeloda treatment did not record any significant change in lipid concentrations when compared with DMH control. The results indicate that A. wilkesiana significantly and non-significantly altered the risk factors associated with heart disease factors induced by DMH toxicity.