EFFECT OF FEEDING BRASSICA JUNCEA SEEDS ON EXPERIMENTALLY INDUCED HYPERLIPIDEMIA

Abstract

Cardiovascular Disease (CVD) is major cause of death worldwide. Atherosclerosis is principal underlying mechanism, stimulated by hyperlipidemia. Substantial evidences suggest that atherosclerosis can be prevented or at least retarded by controlling serum lipids, especially cholesterol, at initial stages. The study was aimed to investigate the antihyperlipidemic potential of Brassica juncea seeds in cholesterol-fed rabbits owing to expected lipid lowering effect of B. juncea seeds. Age matched 18 rabbits were randomly divided into three equal groups control, hyperlipidemic and treated. Following one week acclimatization, control group kept on normal animal chow, 5% atherogenic diet was administered to hyperlipidemic group while treated were fed 10% dried Brassica juncea seeds along with atherogenic diet for eight weeks. Blood specimens were obtained and assayed for lipid profile (TC, HDL-C, LDL-C, TG, vLDL, TC/HDL-C). Data was analyzed using t-test at 0.05. High cholesterol diet significantly increased plasma TC (p<0.01, 60.25%), LDL-C (p<0.05, 10.8%), TG (p<0.05, 19.9%) while rise in HDL-C (23.1%) and vLDL (18.4%) remained non-significant as compared with control. Brassica juncea seeds consumption showed significant lipid lowering activity TC (p<0.05, -24.7%), HDL-C (p<0.05, 36.7%), LDL-C (p<0.05, -34%), TG (p<0.01, -41%) and vLDL (p<0.05, -40.7%) in comparison to hyperlipidemic counterparts. A non-significant decrease in body weight was also observed (- 11.5%). The findings suggest that B. juncea seeds possess strong antihyperlipidemic effects and its dietary supplementation may be helpful as primary prevention against atherosclerosis and coronary heart disease.