Biochemical Profile of Albino Rats with Experimentally-Induced Metabolic Syndrome fed Diet Formulations of Cnidoscolus aconitifolius, Gongronema latifolium and Moringa oleifera Leaves

Metabolic syndrome (MS) is a major global public health concern with its prevalence rising steadily. Plants contain variety of bioactive compounds (phytochemicals) of therapeutic benefits which have proven effective in management and treatment of several human and animal diseases. This study is therefore aimed at evaluating the effect of diet formulations of Gongronema latifolium leaf (GLL), Cnidoscolus aconitifolius leaf (CAL) and Moringa oleifera leaf (MOL) on some biochemical parameters of experimentally-induced MS in male albino rats. Adult Wistar male rats (forty-eight) weighing between 180-210 g were randomly grouped into eight groups of six rats each. Group 1 received normal diet. MS was induced in experimental rats (Groups 2 – 8) with high fat high carbohydrate (HFHC) diet for eight weeks, after which group 2 was fed normal rat diet (untreated), while groups 3 to 8 was treated with diets formulated with GLL, CAL, MOL for another eight weeks. The dose of the plants used for feed formulation was 10%, which is 100 g of plant in 1000 g of the total formulated diet for each treatment. Antioxidant status, liver marker enzymes, serum lipid profile and obesity indices were evaluated using standard methods. Superoxide dismutase and catalase activities significantly (p < 0.05) increased in the treatment groups. Treatment with the herbs showed mild Kupffer cell activation reversing periportal hepatitis induced after the consumption of HFHC diet. Significant (p < 0.05) decrease in total cholesterol, triacylglycerols and body weight gain of the treated groups were observed, while high density lipoprotein significantly (p < 0.05) increased compared to the untreated group. Results from the study indicate that GLL, CAL, and MOL have therapeutic potentials that could be useful in the management of metabolic syndrome components.