Ricinodendron heutelotii (Bail.) or Tetracarpidium conophorum Müll. oils fed to male rats lower blood lipids

• Published in: Nutrition research (New York, N.Y.) N.Y.), 2009-07, Vol.29 (7), p.503-509
• Main Authors: Tchankou Leudeu, Bertille Carine, Tchiégang, Clergé, Barbé, Françoise, Nicolas, Benedicte, Guéant, Jean-Louis
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Alkaline Phosphatase - blood; alpha-linolenic acid; animal models; Animals; Antioxidant; antioxidants; atherogenesis; Atherosclerosis - prevention & control; Biological and medical sciences; Blood lipids; cholesteremic effect; cholesterol; Cholesterol - blood; Cholesterol, LDL - blood; conjugated linoleic acid; Dietary Fats, Unsaturated - pharmacology; Euphorbiaceae; Euphorbiaceae - chemistry; Feeding. Feeding behavior; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Gastroenterology and Hepatology; linoleic acid; Lipids - blood; Male; Malondialdehyde - blood; Oils; Plant Oils - pharmacology; protective effect; Rats; Rats, Sprague-Dawley; Ricinodendron heudelotii; Seeds; Tetracarpidium conophorum; triacylglycerols; Triglycerides - blood; Vertebrates: anatomy and physiology, studies on body, several organs or systems
• ISSN: 0271-5317; 1879-0739
• DOI: 10.1016/j.nutres.2009.07.004

Abstract Ricinodendron heudelotii and Tetracarpidium conophorum (Euphorbiaceae family) are 2 oil-bearing wild plants whose fruits are generally consumed in Cameroon. T conophorum kernels are eaten as nibbles after cooking. Kernels of R heudelotii are used as spice in many dishes in Cameroon. Oil from T conophorum contains a high level of α -linolenic acid (72.24%), and oil from R heudelotii kernels is a good source of α -eleostearic acid (9c, 11t, 13t; 52.61%), which is a conjugated linolenic acid. Polyunsaturated fatty acids have received considerable interest because their consumption has been associated with beneficial health effects. We hypothesized that the consumption of R heudelotii and T conophorum oils would alter the in vivo lipid profiles and some antioxidants parameters. Therefore, male Sprague-Dawley rats (age, 1 month, n = 18) were fed with a standard, commercial diet (control group), or a diet containing T conophorum oil (TCO group) or R heudelotii oil (RHO group). After 60 days of feeding the respective diets, blood samples were collected and used to determine biochemical parameters. High-protein lipoprotein cholesterol, creatinine, alanine aminotransferase, alkaline phosphatase, total bilirubin, malondialdehyde, and selenium levels were not significantly different ( P > .05) between the RHO and TCO groups. The atherogenicity index was higher for the group of rats fed a standard, commercial diet compared with the RHO and TCO groups. The oils examined in this study reduced cholesterol and triglyceride levels in rats compared with the control group fed the standard diet.