Abstract
The plant Cola pachycarpa and Cola lepidota have been identified as some of the underutilized but important fruit trees of South Eastern Nigerian agro ecological zones. These fruits are used by locals for nutritional and medicinal purposes though much research efforts have not been extended to this plant. The study evaluated the effect of Cola pachycarpa and Cola lepidota fruit juices on the food intake, body weight and lipid profile (total cholesterol, high density lipoprotein, low density lipoprotein & triglycerides) of alloxan- induced diabetic rats. Fresh Cola pachycarpa and Cola lepidota fruits were obtained from local markets and home farms within communities in Isiala Mbano local government area of Imo State and Isiala Ngwa South local government area of Abia State. The fruits were processed into fruit juice using an electric juicer. Forty healthy adult albino male rats without any drug treatment were randomized into eight groups based on body weight. All the rats in each group were induced with alloxan to become diabetic. Samples of blood were collected for basal biochemical and lipid indices as well as after induction with diabetes. The weight of each rat was taken at the beginning of the experiment, during and after to determine the weight gain. The experiment lasted for 21days. Data was analyzed statistically using IBM-SPSS (Special Package for Social Sciences) version 20 software for means and standard deviation. The body weight and food intake of all treated rats improved (5.14% to 10.76%). Monkey Cola fruit juices significantly (p < 0.05) increased high density lipoproteins (198.98%, CPR1). Cholesterol values throughout the experimental period showed a very high significant (p < 0.05) decrease in all groups treated with Cola juices and standard drug, except for the untreated, NT which recorded elevated cholesterol levels. Although the group treated with standard drug had the highest percentage reduction in LDL value (-74.05%), all other treatment groups had statistically significant (p
Publication Date: 2023-09-09