Anti Hyperlipidemic Activities Of Annona Muricata (Linn)

This study was designed to determine the effects of methanolic extracts of Annona muricata (Linn) on serum lipid profile changes in experimentally-induced diabetic Wistar rats with view to elucidate its possible effects on cardiovascular diseases induced by hyperglycemia. Thirty adult Wistar rats were randomly assigned into three groups (A, B and C) of ten rats each. Group A was the control, Group B was untreated diabetic group and group C was A. muricata-treated group. The changes in the serum lipid profiles were monitored in all the animals four weeks before the commencement of the experiment and throughout the experimental period. Diabetes mellitus was induced in groups B and C by a single intra-peritoneal injection of 80mg/kg streptozotocin dissolved in 0.1M citrate buffer. The control group was intraperitoneally injected with equivalent volume of citrate buffer and all the animals were monitored for another four weeks. Daily intra peritoneal injection of 100mg/kg A. muricata was administered to group C rats for two weeks and the animals were monitored for another two weeks. The data obtained were analyzed with descriptive and inferential statistics. The result of the serum lipid analysis showed a significant (P < 0.05) reduction in the serum total cholesterol, triglyceride, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol and very low-density lipoprotein cholesterol; and a significant (P < 0.05) increase in the serum high-density lipoprotein cholesterol and antiatherogenic index of A. muricata-treated group when compared to untreated diabetic group of rats. The result of this study demonstrated that A. muricata possesses anti-hyperlipidemic activities.