Hypolipidemic and antioxidative effects of dika nut ( Irvingia gabonensis ) seeds and nkui ( Trimphetta cordifolia ) stem bark mucilages in triton WR-1339 induced hyperlipidemic rats

Two different mucilages were extracted from dika nut ( Irvingia gabonensis ) kernels and nkui ( Trimphetta cordifolia ) stem barks and the hypolipidemic and antioxidant effects were studied on Triton WR-1339 induced hyperlipidemic rats. The GC analysis revealed that, dika nut mucilage is an arabinogalactan type while nkui is a rhamnogalacturonane type. The mucilage of nkui (200 mg/kg) showed the greatest hypolipidemic effect ( p <0.05). An oxidative stress marker analysis suggested that the level of malonyl dialdehyde was significantly decreased in serum by the 2 mucilages ( p <0.05). There was also a significant decrease in hydroperoxide level for the tested fibers. Moreover, nkui mucilage gave the highest levels in liver homogenate and in the hemolysate and tissues ( p <0.05). The results suggest that the hypolidemic effect of mucilages varies with their chemical nature. They would be effective in the prevention of increase of serum lipid levels, in the reduction of lipid peroxidation and in the improvement of antioxidant status.