PERI CARDIAL ADIPOSE TISSUE OF ALBINO RATS FED LARD PALM KERNEL CAKE AND TREATED WITH HERBAL DECOCTION

Pericardial adipose tissues are combined fats from pericardial sac and surrounding external surfaces of the pericardium. Excess deposits often lead to cardiovascular disorders and other heart related diseases. There are claims that an herbal decoction called Aju Mbaise (a combination of medicinal plants wrapped as a combo pack) can be used to treat heart related diseases including obesity which affects many people world-wide. Despite the existing information on Aju Mbaise and its healing claims, there is ucity of scientific data on the effects on pericardial adipose tissues. Therefore, this study was to examine histopathology anges in pericardial adipose tissues of lard-palm kernel cake (L-PKC) diet-fed rats treated with Aju Mbaise herbal decoction. The specific objectives were to investigate the effects of the present herbal decoction on body weight, adiposity indices and lipid profile of experimental rats. Samples of fresh L-PKC were obtained from Uselu market, Benin City while Aju Mbaise was purchased online. Each component was identified and authenticated by an expert taxonomist in the University while voucher numbers were issued for each constituent. Sixteen (16) Sprague-Dawley rats of both sexes, weighing (149-175g) were obtained from a research animal farm in Benin City. Animals acclimatized for 2weeks in Anatomy department University of Benin with ambient temperature 26±3°C), humidity (50% - 60%) and photoperiodicity (12:12hr). They were kept in clean steel gauzed cages and coconut husks used as beddings in a light and humid environment. Rats were fed on standard pellets and water provided adequately. Ethical approval (V.1034/40) was obtained from Ministry of Agriculture and Natural Resources while rats were used in compliance with laydown policies outlined in the Guide for Care and Use of Laboratory Animals. L-PKC diet was prepared consisting of 90% super feed, 8% pig fat, and 2% PKC mixed appropriately to make up 100%. Herbal decoction was prepared by placing 296g wrap of it in a clean pot while one (1L) litre of water was added and heated for 30minutes with a gas cooker according to producer’s recommendation. After cooking, it was cooled and filtered with a white sterile muslin cloth. The dark-brown decoction (filtrate) was refrigerated to avoid decay at 25°C. LD50 was conducted to ascertain the lethal dose that will serve as a guide in administering the required dosage. Experimental rats were divided into four (4) groups irrespective of sex, age and weight (n=4). Group A were untreated but received standard rats diet (SRD) and water. Group B was fed with 10% of L-PKC fat diet mixed with 90% SRD and water. Group C was fed 10% L-PKC mixed with 90% SRD and water, and administered 2.5mL/kg body weight of herbal decoction hile Group D was fed same way like Group C but treated with 5mL/kg of herbal decoction. Each rat was picked with a hand owel and treated orally for twenty eight (28) days at 2day intervals with a sterile syringe. Average weekly body eights of each rat were recorded with a digital electronic balance. In the end, all animals fasted overnight and were anaesthetized with chloroform. Rats were dissected using scalpel blade while pericardial adipose tissues from the epicardial and paracardial were excised including he myocardium and blotted individually with filter paper prior to grossing while relative tissue weights were recorded. Blood sample was collected from the cardiac region from each animal without anticoagulant with tab gel and centrifuged (BROADBENT, UK) at 3000 rpm for 5 min to obtain the serum content. Sera were stored at -20°C until it was eeded for fasting lipid profile using the chemical analyzer. Grossed samples were fixed in 10% neutral buffered formol saline and processed histologically (dehydrated with alcohol, cleared in xylene and impregnated with molten paraffin wax and embedded with the automatic embedding machine. Tissues were de-blocked and sectioned with a microtome at 3-5µ. Sections were stained using H&E method and viewed with the microscope at x10 and x40 magnifications. Data were statistically analyzed using ANOVA and Tukey's post-hoc test for multiple comparisons while p<0.05 was considered significant. The effect of the graded treatment (2.5mL/kg and 5mL/kg AJMD) on rats revealed a progressive increase in Group (C and D). All rats experienced increases in weights compared with Day 0 and there was no significant difference in weights within the study period. Total pericardial fat weight was increased in all groups but higher in group B (Lard-PKC). The same condition was seen in total pericardial index with no significant differences (p<0.05) in all pericardial weights. Organ weights in L- PKC (Group B) were higher when ompared with those in Group A. Those in Group C (L-PKC + 2.5mL/kg AJMD) decreased compared with Group B while Group D (L-PKC +5mL/kg AJMD) increased with no significant difference in the groups. Lipid profile analysis showed that there is a significant decrease in mean TC (mg/dL) p<0.001 between Group B and A, and between Group C and B. There was no significant difference in HDL and LDL while VLDL showed a significant difference (p<0.000) between Group A and D and between roup B 11 and C. Pericardial adiposity from Group A showed that ipocytes remained intact without distortions in histological architecture. Adipocytes sizes in Group B though appeared normal but bigger in sizes compared with control animals. Pericardial adiposity in Group C and D were normal but slightly reduced in roup D compared with other groups. Myocardium (Group A) owed normal histological architecture evident with an intact ranching muscle fibre. Group B showed evidence of ballooning of branching muscle fibres and nucleus. Group C and D were normal ith an intact fibre striation and nucleus. Therefore, Aju Mbaise decoction maintained histological integrity of the myocardium, lipid profile, including reduction in adipose tissue weights and adipocyte sizes of rats in this study. Further investigation from molecular perspectives should be considered to support the current claims.