Effects of Pueraria mirifica on Blood Clinical Biochemistry Parameters in Normal and High Cholesterol Diet - Fed Rats

Abstract

Pueraria mirifica Airy Shaw and Suvatabandhu, known locally as Kwao Keur,

is considered to be a rejuvenating folk medicine. In this study, we investigated the

effects of P.mirifica on blood clinical biochemistry parameters in the male Wistar

rats. Rats were randomly divided into four treatment groups as following: normal

diet-fed group; high cholesterol diet-fed group; normal diet-fed supplemented with

P.mirifica group; high cholesterol diet-fed supplemented with P.mirifica group. Each

group consisted of 10 rats. P. mirifica was administered orally at a dosage of 100

mg/kg/day for 90 consecutive days. At the end of the treatment, animals were

sacrificed and blood samples were collected by heart puncture. Serum was determined

for clinical biochemistry parameters. The results showed that body weights of rats

either fed with normal diet or high cholesterol diet along with P. mirifica

administration were significantly lower than their corresponding control groups.

There were no significant difference in the following blood clinical biochemistry

parameters: hemoglobin, hematocrit, WBC count, percent differential WBC, platelet

count, RBC morphology, glucose, SGOT, SGPT, ALP, total bilirubin, direct bilirubin,

BUN and SCr in all experimental groups. P.mirifica significantly decreased serum

cholesterol in either normal diet-fed or high cholesterol diet-fed rats, whereas

significantly increased serum triglyceride in normal diet-fed rats but trended to

decrease this parameter in high cholesterol diet-fed rats. Serum LDL and HDL of

either normal diet or high cholesterol diet-fed rats were significantly decreased by

supplementation with P.mirifica. Interestingly, the improvement in the LDL/HDL

ratio which is a predictor of vascular risk was observed in the hypercholesterolemic

rats supplemented with P.mirifica. Although, P.mirifica demonstrated a benefit on

lipid profile and did not show any toxic effects on blood, liver and kidney system in

this study. An increment of serum triglyceride in normal rat receiving P.mirifica,

however, is not favorable. Therefore, the study of its effects at various dose and long

term uses including mechanism of effects should be further investigated.