Subchronic Effects of Barakol on Blood Clinical Biochemistry Parameters in Rats Fed with Normal and High Cholesterol Diets

Abstract

Subchronic effects of barakol, a major constituent in flowers and young leaves of Cassia siamea Lam., on blood clinical biochemistry parameters were investigated in this study. Thirty-two male Wistar rats were randomly assigned into 4 groups. The first two groups were fed with normal or high cholesterol diets serving as control groups. The other two groups were fed with normal or high cholesterol diet along with 30 mg/kg/day barakol given orally. After 90 days of treatment period, serum sample and whole blood of each rat were assessed for blood clinical biochemistry parameters and hematology. Normal or high cholesterol diet-fed rats treated with barakol demonstrated a significant decrease in TG but increases in total and direct bilirubins. A significant decrease in ALP was found in high cholesterol diet-barakol treated group, but there was no change in normal diet-barakol treated group. There were no significant effects of barakol on the following parameters: SGOT, SGPT, BUN, SCr, total cholesterol, LDL-C, HDL-C, LDL C/HDL-C ratio, serum glucose, Hb, Hct, platelet count, WBC count and % differential WBCs in both dietary conditions. In addition, rats fed with high cholesterol diet showed significant increases in SGOT, SGPT, ALP, total cholesterol, LDL-C, and LDL-C/HDL-C ratio as compared to the normal diet group. The alterations of these parameters might indicate the different types of liver injury caused by barakol treatment and hypercholesterolemia condition. Further studies on the effects of various doses of barakol on blood clinical biochemistry parameters as well as the mechanisms of which barakol-induced liver injury are in progress.