Histo-inhibitory effects of <i>Warbugia ugandensis</i> on high fat diet induced atherosclerosis in New Zealand rabbits

Abstract

Atherosclerosis is a chronic inflammatory condition characterized by accumulation of plaque within a blood vessel. W. ugandensis has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory benefits therefore it might play an important role in histo-inhibition of atherosclerosis. This was a posttest only true experimental design in which 30 male New Zealand rabbits were used. Systematic random sampling method was used in recruiting and assigning the animals into control and experimental groups. W. ugandensis extract was obtained, phytochemical analysis and acute oral toxicity was done to determine safe dose. The animals were fed on high fat diet to induce atherosclerosis. The mean area fraction of Atorvastatin and W. ugandensis histo-inhibitory group significantly reduced as compared to vehicle control group. On histological analysis, histo-inhibitory group had a fatty streak within the tunica intima characterized by foam cells that accumulated lipids in their cytoplasm while the atorvastatin histo-inhibitory group had less pronounced fatty streak. Therefore, it can be concluded that W. ugandensis has positive histo-inhibitory effects characterized by failure of formation of atherosclerotic lesion.