Variation in Body Weight, Lipid Profile and Selected Reproduction Hormones in Rats Given Psidium guajava Leaves from Crude Oil Polluted and Non-Crude Oil Polluted Areas

Abstract

Variation in body weight, lipid profile and selected reproduction hormones in rats given Psidium guajava leaf samples from crude oil polluted and non-crude oil polluted areas was evaluated. Thirty-six albino rats of Wistar strain weighing between 90-120 g were divided into three major groups of I-III, with each group having two subgroups designated “a” and “b”. Each of the subgroup housed six rats and they were given different concentrations of the compounded feed of the leaf samples. Rat groups placed on P. guajava leaf sample from non-crude oil polluted area had significantly (p<0.05) increased weight when compared to rat groups placed on P. guajava leaf sample from crude oil polluted area. Triglyceride, cholesterol and low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) increased significantly (p<0.05) in rat groups placed on P. guajava leaf sample from crude oil polluted area against rat groups placed on P. guajava leaf sample from non-crude oil polluted area. Atherogenic indices of rat groups placed on P. guajava leaf sample from crude oil polluted area showed increased risk to cardiovascular diseases when compared to rat groups placed on P. guajava leaf sample from non-crude oil polluted area. The evaluated reproductive hormones increased significantly (p<0.05) in rats placed on P. guajava leaf sample from crude oil polluted area against those groups placed on P. guajava leaf sample from non-crude oil polluted area. The constituents of P. guajava leaf sample from crude oil polluted area could be behind the observed risk while the increase in hormones could be linked to increased cholesterol in rats groups placed on the leaf sample from crude oil polluted area. There is to sensitise those in the act of herbalism to be aware of where they harvest the plants they use as raw materials. This study has shown the variation in body weight, lipid profile and selected reproduction hormones in rats given P. guajava leaves from crude oil polluted and non-crude oil polluted areas.