Antioxidant, hypolipidaemic and heptoprotective potentials of perinatal <i>Thaumatococcus daniellii</i> leaf supplemented diet in male offspring of Sprague-Dawley rats

Abstract

Background: Thaumatococcus daniellii (Benn.) Benth is one of the monocotyledonous herbs found in rain forests and coastal areas of West and Central Africa. This study investigated the antioxidant, hypolipidaemic and hepatoprotective roles of perinatal Thaumatococcus daniellii leaf supplemented diet in offspring of Sprague-Dawley rats.

Methods: Twenty-four (24) pregnant Sprague-Dawley rats were used and fed either a control diet or Thaumatococcus daniellii leaf supplemented diet (TDLSD). The dams were given TDLSD diet up to parturition (in-utero group, IUG), or from birth to post-natal day 21 (lactation group, LG) or for a period covering both, combined (CG). On postnatal day 90, blood sample was collected via retro-orbital puncture to obtain serum sample for the determination of cholesterol (CHOL), triglyceride (TG), high density lipoprotein (HDL) and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) and hepatic lipase (HL). Aspartate amino transferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP) was investigated. Superoxide dismutase (SOD) reduced glutathione (GSH), catalase (CAT), malonaldehyde (MDA) were investigated.

Results: There was no significant difference (p<0.05) in CHOL, LDL, and HDL levels in LG and CG offspring while TG significantly (p<0.05) decreased in IUG, and CG compared with control. HL increased significantly (p<0.05), ALT, AST and ALP significantly decrease (p<0.05) while GSH, SOD and CAT upregulated in IUG, LG and CG compared with CONT. MDA downregulated(p<0.05) in IUG, LG and CG compared with CONT.

Conclusion: This study provides evidence that perinatal Thaumatococcus daniellii leaf supplemented diet possesses antioxidant, lipid lowering and hepatoprotective potentials in offspring of Sprague-Dawley rats though it was observed that in-utero exposure produced more effect hence, it’s dependent on the window of exposure.

Keywords: Catalase, Cholesterol, Perinatal, Daniellii thaumatococcus