Root Extract of Nypa fruticans Exhibits Superior Hypolipidaemic Activity Compared with Leaf and Seed Extracts in High-Fat Diet-Induced Hyperlipidaemic Rats
Opusunju, Boma Harris *
Department of Medical Biochemistry, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, Rivers State University, Nkpolu-Oroworukwo, Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Nigeria.
Owo, Gogo James
Department of Animal and Environmental Biology, Faculty of Natural and Applied Sciences, Ignatius Ajuru University of Education, Rumuolumeni, Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Nigeria.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Background: Dyslipidaemia is an important risk factor for cardiovascular disease, necessitating the search for effective natural lipid-lowering agents.
Aim: This study compared the phytochemical composition and hypolipidaemic effects of ethanolic root, leaf, and seed extracts of Nypa fruticans in high-fat diet-fed Wistar rats.
Methods: Qualitative and quantitative phytochemical analyses were performed. Hyperlipidaemia was induced by feeding rats a high-fat diet for four weeks. The animals were assigned to six groups: normal control, hyperlipidaemic control, atorvastatin, root extract, leaf extract, and seed extract. Atorvastatin (10 mg/kg) or plant extracts (200 mg/kg) were administered orally for 28 days. Body weight and the serum lipid profile were determined.
Results: Phytochemical screening revealed alkaloids, flavonoids, tannins, saponins, phenolics, terpenoids, steroids, and glycosides. The root extract had the highest total phenolic (96.42 ± 2.81 mg GAE/g) and flavonoid (61.84 ± 1.76 mg QE/g) contents, while the seed extract had the highest saponin (28.53 ± 1.07 mg/g) and terpenoid (45.91 ± 1.43 mg/g) contents. Compared with the normal control, the hyperlipidaemic control had significantly higher total cholesterol (168.35 ± 5.72 mg/dL), triglycerides (142.18 ± 4.67 mg/dL), and LDL-C (111.44 ± 4.23 mg/dL), but lower HDL-C (28.47 ± 1.36 mg/dL; p < 0.05). The root extract significantly reduced total cholesterol (98.65 ± 3.87 mg/dL), triglycerides (86.42 ± 3.15 mg/dL), and LDL-C (34.18 ± 1.85 mg/dL), while increasing HDL-C (47.83 ± 1.94 mg/dL) compared with the hyperlipidaemic control (p < 0.05). Among the extracts, the root extract produced the greatest hypolipidaemic effect, while seed and leaf extracts showed comparatively lower effects. The extracts also reduced body weight gain.
Conclusion: N. fruticans, particularly the ethanolic root extract, demonstrated hypolipidaemic potential in high-fat diet-fed Wistar rats. Further studies are required to elucidate the underlying mechanisms and establish its potential clinical relevance.
Keywords: Nypa fruticans, ethanolic extract, phytochemical constituents, hypolipidaemic activity, hyperlipidaemia, high-fat diet, serum lipid profile, plant parts, comparative study