Antihyperlidemic Efficiency of Abelmoschus esculentus (Okra) Fruits Varieties on Rats Fed High-Fat Diet

Background: Okra fruits have been found to be efficient in managing hyperlipidemia. But, there are different varieties of Okra, and whether antihyperlipidemic efficiency varies with the varieties has not been reported.

Aim of the Study: The aim of the study was to validate antihyperlipidemic efficiencies of some Okra fruits varieties on rats fed high-fat diet.

Methods: The five varieties of okra fruit was each sliced, air dried and pulverized into powder then extracted with methanol (80%) using Soxhlet extractor and concentrated at 30∘C in a rotary evaporator then finally air dried. Qualitative and quantitative phytochemicals, and proximate analysis were conducted on the extracts. Hyperlipidemia was induce by feeding rats with high-fat diet for 35 days, followed by treating with two selected Okra fruit varieties (NHB-AI-B and Yar kolon) which has the highest extract yield and phytochemicals for 21 days. Nine groups of five rats was used: groups 1-3 (hyperlipidemic rats received NHB-AI-B Okra fruit extract at different doses), group 4-6 (hyperlipidemic rats received Yar kolon Okra fruit extract at different doses), group 7 (positive control rats treated with 10mg/kg Atorvastatin), group 8 (normal control rats fed basal diet) and group 9 (negative control). Serum lipid profile were determined from each rat.

Results: The study confirmed the presence of some important phytochemicals like saponins, tannins, phenolics, flavonoids, fibre etc but differs in concentrations among the varieties where Yar kolon variety emerge highest in almost all the chemical compounds. Rat fed high-fat diet for 35 days developed hyperlipidemia as evident by the elevated triglyceride, cholesterol, LDL-C, body weight and supressed HDL-C. When treated with extracts of NHB-AI-B and Yar kolon Okra fruits varieties, the altered lipid profile were significantly reversed toward normalcy with Yar kolon variety exerting the most efficient activity.

Conclusion: The study showed the five Okra fruit varieties possess same chemical compounds but differs in concentrations among varieties. The extracts of Okra fruits varieties exert significant antihyperlipidemic effect but in varied degrees suggesting variations in their efficiency. This, therefore calls for further study to compare more Okra varieties to determine which one is the most potent and its active agent.