Abstract

The effects of aqueous and methanolic leaf extracts of Persea americana on body weight and liver lipids in rats were studied. Male albino rats were fed a modified diet containing 0.5% cholesterol and 0.25% cholic acid to provoke hyperlipidaemia. The hyperlipidaemic rats were given 10 mg/kg body weight of either aqueous or methanolic extract of P. americana leaf daily for 8 weeks. There were no significant differences (p>0.05) in the overall body weight gain of the hyperlipidaemic rats compared to normal control. However, the administration of the aqueous and methanolic extracts provoked 14 and 25% reduction, respectively, in the body weight gain of the treated rats compared to the hyperlipidaemic control. Mean liver weights were markedly increased (p<0.05) in rats fed hyperlipidaemic diet (groups B, C and D: 70, 69 and 57%, respectively) compared to normal control rats. The methanolic extract provoked a minimal (8%) decrease in mean liver weight compared to the hyperlipidaemic control rats. It can be hypothesized that P. americana leaf extracts increase catabolism of lipids accumulated in adipose tissue causing a decrease in body weight but does not influence liver lipid levels in rats.

Key words: Persea Americana, body weight gain, hyperlipidaemia, leaf extracts, albino rats.