ANTI-HYPERLIPIDEMIC AND BIOCHEMICAL EFFECT

Hypercholesterolemia is an important risk factor for atherosclerosis and the development ofcardio vascular disease. The increasing concerns regarding the side effects and long-term safety of conventional cholesterol-lowering drugs brought about the search for alternative therapeutic agents. This study biochemically transformed the stem bark of Terminalia catappa to activatedcharcoal and evaluated its anti-hyperlipidemic effect on cholesterol-induced models. Stembarkwas gotten fresh from the Terminalia catappa tree, dried under the sun and subjected to anairtight Thermofischer muffle furnace at 1450°C in the absence of oxygen for about anhour toallow all the stem bark turn into charcoal and highly porous material with a large surfacearea. Twelve rats were divided into four groups of three rats each. All groups except group 1 (control)were induced with 5% cholesterol dissolved in ratio 1:2 of DMSO (Dimethyl sulfoxide) orallywith gastric gavage and fed with diet rich in lard. Group 2 (negative control) were left untreated, group 3 and 4 were treated with 200mg/kg body weight of Activated charcoal and 10mg/kgbodyweight of Atorvastatin (standard drug) respectively. GC-MS results shows that activated charcoal of Terminalia catappa contains two phytochemicals; Methyl-6-beta galactopyranoside (93.24%)and Stigmastan-3, 5-diene (6.76%) which is a plant sterol. The results revealed a significant
increase (p<0.05) in Sodium dismutase (SOD), Catalase (CAT), Glutathione reductase (GSH), Glutathione Peroxidase (GPx), Total protein and Alanine Transaminase (ALT) in group3and4when compared with group 2 which were induced but not treated. A significant decrease (p<0.05)in Aspartate Transaminase (AST), Alkaline phosphatase (ALP), Total cholesterol, LDL-Cholesterol, Urea, Creatinine, Malondialdehyde (MDA), Potassium and Sodiumin group3and4when compared to group 2 which were induced but not treated. Data from this study show that activated charcoal contains phytochemicals, a plant sterol which reduces cholesterol levels by inhibiting the absorption of cholesterol in the intestines by absorbing bile acids. Therefore, activated charcoal of Terminalia catappa has an anti-hyperlipidemic effect.