The Effects of Piper Guineense versus Sesamum Indicum Aqueous Extracts on Lipid Metabolism and Antioxidants in Hypercholesterolemic Rats

Background Piper guineense (PG) and Sesamum indicum (SI) have been shown to be rich sources of antioxidants and other health benefits; hence, we evaluated the impact of its consumption in hypercholesterolemic model on lipid metabolism. Methods Forty-eight animals were divided into eight groups of six rats each. Rats were given cholesterol (40 mg/0.3ml), PG and SI extract (100 and 200 mg/kg), and Questran (0.26 g/kg) orally, five times a week for 28 days. Lipid profile, hepatic antioxidant status, biomarkers of liver toxicity, and tissue histopathology were examined. Data were analyzed using one-way ANOVA and P<0.05 were considered statistically significant. Results Cholesterol feeding caused 100% gain in weight, significantly increased AST, LPO (P=0.41 and 0.002) but significantly decreased SOD (P=0.003) compared to control. CHPG(1)/(2) and CHSI(1)/(2) caused a significant decrease (P=0.01, 0.005, 0.003, and 0.023) in cholesterol-induced body-weight gain and decreased serum total cholesterol by 20-30% compared to untreated-hypercholesterolemic rats. Triglyceride and LDL-c decreased with extract administration and specifically HDL-c increased significantly (P<0.001) by CHSI(1) compared to untreated-hypercholesterol rats. Furthermore, an increase in HDL-c was higher (P=0.04 and 0.002) by SI compared to PG at both doses. Conclusion These results indicate that PG and SI exerts a hypolipidemic effect, reduces cholesterol intake induced body weight gain, and increases the body's antioxidant defense system in experimental hypercholesterolemia.