Blood Cholesterol Lowering Potential of Paragis (Elusine indica)

Abstract

INTRODUCTION

Today's generation is characterized by people who are always on the go. Most of them prefer the intake of foods from fast food restaurants. More often than not, these are packed with high cholesterol. Ingestion of these kinds of food coupled with lack of exercise leads to high cholesterol levels in the body. Once detected, doctors usually prescribe medicines which are synthetic in nature and are very expensive. For this reason, the researchers conducted an investigation of a plant extract that could potentially lower the cholesterol levels in the body.

METHODS

The crude extract of paragis (Elusine indica) was obtained from the plant’s leaves. Four set-ups consisting of 3 samples of hyperlipidemic Sprague Dawley Rats each were prepared. Samples in Set-up A were not given any supplement while samples in Set-up B were given 2.5 mL of simvastatin once a day. On the other hand, samples in Set up C were given 2.5 mL of extract once a day while samples in Set-up D were given 2.5 mL of extract twice a day. The cholesterol levels of each sample in all set-ups were measured before and after the 5-day experimentation.

RESULTS

Results reveal that the mean cholesterol level of the sample Sprague Dawley rats before experimentation are 184.62 mg/dl, 154.81 mg/ dl, 179.10 mg/dl, and 160.38 mg/dl, corresponding to those assigned in Treatments 0 to 3 respectively. On the other hand, their cholesterol levels after exposing them to control and to different treatments are revealed as 178.85 mg/dl, 104.23 mg/dl, 155.57 mg/dl, and 102.31 mg/dl.

DISCUSSIONS

Based on the results of the study, a difference of 5.79 mg/dl cholesterol value was observed for rats under the controlled set-up. A difference of 50.58 mg/dl cholesterol value was observed for rat samples in Treatment 1. A difference of 23.53mg/dl cholesterol value was observed for rat samples in Treatment 2. A difference of 58.07 mg/dl cholesterol value was observed for rat samples in Treatment 3. This means that rat samples exposed to Elusine indica leaf extract as a supplement twice a day has lowered their cholesterol level compared to the samples exposed to the same extract once a day. Also, the double dosage of Elusine indica leaf extract is more effective in lowering the cholesterol levels of the samples in comparison to the commercial simvastatin.