EVALUATION OF ADMINISTRATION OF Hibiscus rosa sinensis (HRS) LEAVES, POMEGRANATE (Punica granatum) PEELS (PP) EXTRACTS AND MIXTURE OF BOTH ON LIPID PROFILE OF ALBINO RATS

The possible lipid lowering properties of aqueous extracts of Hibiscus rosa sinensis leaves (AEHRS) and pomegranate (Punica granatum) peels (AEPP) were studied. Twelve groups of male albino rats, six rats each were used. The first group (I) was the normal control. The second group (II) was alloxanized diabetic control which showed a significant dyslipidemia as evidence by increasing in total serum cholesterol, triglycerides and decreased in HDL cholesterol level. Third (III), fourth (IV) and fifth (V) groups were given AEHRS with the dose level of 250, 500 and 750 mg/kg body weight, respectively. Sixth (VI), seventh (VII) and eighth (VIII) groups were received AEPP extracts with the dose level of 100, 200 and 300 mg/kg body weight, respectively. Ninth (IX), tenth (X), eleventh (XI) groups were given mixture of AEHRS and AEPP with the dose level of 125/125, 225/225, 350/350 and one for diabetic rats which treated with a mixture of AEHRS leaves and AEPP-twelfth (XII)- at dose of 400/400 mg/kg body weight. All treated groups were given the extracts daily oral. Total serum cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG) and high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) were determined after 7, 14 and 21 days. The results showed a decrease in serum cholesterol from 159.55±8.22 to 136.64 ± 9.07 mg/dl, triglycerides levels from 141.00±4.6 to 115.91±2.17mg/dl and an increase of high density lipoprotein cholesterol level from 69.31±0.84 to 111.31±1.13mg/dl in groups administrated AEHRS leaves, AEPP and their mixture as compared with normal control and alloxanized diabetic control. The present results indicated that the aqueous extracts of (HRS leaves), (PP) and their mixture possess hypo-cholesterolemic and hypotriglyceridemic effects.