Effects of Sacha Inchi (Plukenetia volubilis) Oil on Serum Interleukin 6 Levels and Foam Cell Count in Male Wistar Rats (Rattus norvegicus) Fed a High Fat and Fructose Diet

Abstract

A high-fat, high-fructose diet induces pro-inflammatory agents such as Interleukin-6 (IL-6) and hyperlipidemia, leading to atherosclerosis. Sacha inchi oil, rich in alpha-linolenic acid (ALA), has anti-inflammatory and lipid-modulating properties. This study aimed to examine the effect of sacha inchi oil on serum IL-6 levels and foam cell count in the aorta of wistar rats on a high-fat, high-fructose diet. This experiment is a true experimental study with a post-test-only control group design, 30 male wistar rats were divided into five groups: normal control (K0), high fat and fructose diet (HFFD) (K1), and three treatment groups receiving HFFD with sacha inchi oil at doses of 0.27 ml/200gBW/day (P1), 0.54 ml/200gBW/day (P2), and 1.08 ml/200gBW/day (P3) for 28 days. On day 29, serum IL-6 levels were measured using ELISA. Mean serum IL-6 levels were K1 (8.465 ng/L), P1 (4.294 ng/L), P2 (3.197 ng/L), P3 (1.379 ng/L), and K0 (1.340 ng/L), with significant differences among groups (p<0.05) except between K0 and P3 (p>0.05). Mean foam cell counts were K1 (55.3 cells/fov), P1 (47.1 cells/fov), P2 (53.2 cells/fov), P3 (52.6 cells/fov), and K0 (44.4 cells/fov), with significant differences between K0 and K1, K1 and P1, K0 and P2, and K0 and P3 (p<0.05). Sacha inchi oil significantly reduced IL-6 levels at all doses compared to the negative control (p<0.05), with the 1.08 ml/200 g/day dose being most effective. The 0.27 ml/200 g/day dose inhibited foam cell formation in HFFD rat. In conclusion, sacha inchi oil reduces serum IL-6 levels and inhibits foam cell formation in male wistar rats on a high-fat, high-fructose diet.