Long term hypolipidaemic and anti-atherogenic effects of<i>Carica papaya</i> Linn. administration on normal rabbits

Abstract

Carica papaya Linn. (Caricaceae) is commonly called paw-paw and papaya. It is used widely in the tropics and sub-tropics as food and medicinal plant. Various parts of the plant are used in folkloric medicine for the treatment of indigestion, asthma, beriberi, jaundice, as well as for wound dressing. This study was designed to assess the long term (24 weeks) effects of daily oral administration of C. papaya aqueous leaf extract (at 200 mg/kg body weight) on the serum lipid profile and other atherogenic indices of normal rabbits. Total cholesterol, total triglycerides, LDL-cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol, atherogenic and coronary risk indices were monitored periodically for 24 weeks. Administration of C. papaya leaf extract caused significant reductions in total cholesterol, triglycerides and LDL-cholesterol. Also, from week 10 of this study, HDL-cholesterol concentration increased in the C. papaya treated rabbits. Atherogenic and coronary risk indices were not altered. The antihyperlipidaemic effect observed in this study may be attributed to the nutrients and phytochemicals found in C. papaya.

Keywords: Lipid profile; Atherogenic index; Coronary risk index; Carica papaya; Medicinal plants; Hypolipidaemic