Effect of Powder of Pomegranate (Punica granatum) Peels on Lipid Profile in Hypercholesterolemic Rats

Abstract

    A present study was carried out to investigate the effects of Pomegranate Peel Powder (PPP) on the lipid profile and body weight gain ratio on hypercholestrolemic male rats. PPP was added to hypercholesterolemic diet by (10%, 15% and 20%) as dietary fiber supplement. Forty adult male albino rats were randomly divided into five groups (8/group). First group (A) kept as control negative, second group (B) control positive given hypercholesterolemic diet, while group (C, D and E) Given hypercholestrolemic diet plus (10%, 15% and 20%) of PPP respectively. Food consumption was recorded daily. Blood samples collected at the end of the experiment (28 days) for measuring the following parameters: serum total cholesterol, triglycerides, HDL, LDL and VLDL. At the end of the experiment animals were scarified to measuring the kidney to body weight ratio, liver to body weight ratio. Results indicated that all (B, C, D and E) groups showed significant (P<0.05) changes in all tested lipids profile comparing with group A. On the other hand, the groups (C, D and E) revealed significant (P<0.05) decrease in all tested lipids profile comparing with group B except HDL in group E. Furthermore, all (C, D and E) groups had significant (P<0.05) decrease in body weight gain ratio and food consumption when compared with group B. Moreover, kidney and liver weights to body weight ratio had highly significant (P<0.05) decrease for all (C, D and E) groups comparing with group B.