Effect of Parkia biglobosa seed on lipid profile of dexamethasone-treated pregnant rats

Funmilola Comfort Oladele 1, *, Bashirat Motunrayo Oluokun 2 and Omotola Blessing Adam 2

1 Department of Medical Biochemistry, Ekiti State University, Ado-Ekiti, Nigeria.
2 Department of Science Laboratory Technology, Ekiti State University, Ado-Ekiti, Nigeria.
 
Research Article
World Journal of Biology Pharmacy and Health Sciences, 2021, 08(03), 030–039.
Article DOI: 10.30574/wjbphs.2021.8.3.0127
Publication history: 
Received on 01 November 2021; revised on 23 December 2021; accepted on 25 December 2021
 
Abstract: 
This study was aimed at evaluating the effect of Parkia biglobosa seed on dexamethasone-treated pregnant rats. Locust bean seeds were purchased from an open market in Ado Ekiti, Nigeria. It was processed and ground into powder which was subsequently used in formulating feed for experimental animals. Fifteen female pregnant rats were divided in three groups of five each. Animals in group A were exposed to standard animal feed only. This served as the control group. Those in group B were exposed to animal feed mixed with locust beans + 0.3 mg/kg body weight of dexamethasone, while those in group C were exposed to animal feed mixed with locust beans. At the end of eight days treatment, animals were sacrificed and blood sample was collected into EDTA bottles and centrifuged. Plasma was separated and used for the determination of glucose and lipid profile. Exposure of animals to dexamethasone was observed to significantly (p<0.05) increased the concentration of plasma glucose concentration when compared with the control as well as animals treated with P. biglobosa only. Animals treated with dexamethasone along with P. biglobosa were observed to have higher concentrations of triglyceride, total cholesterol, low density lipoprotein (LDL) and very low density lipoprotein (VLDL) when compared with those in animals in the control group as well as those treated with P. biglobosa only. Observations from this study revealed that dexamethasone adversely perturbed and unhinged plasma glucose and lipid profile in female pregnant rats while P. biglobosa-formulated diet was observed to be a potent hypoglycemic and hypolipidemic agent.
 
Keywords: 
Dexamethasone; Glucose; Lipid Profile; Parkia biglobosa
 
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