Evaluation of the Effects of Aqueous Fruit Extract of Tamarindus indica on Body Weight, Lipid Profile, Some Electrolytes and Urea of Wistar Rats

Objectives: The objectives of this research is to evaluate the effects of aqueous extract of T. indica on weight, lipid parameters, some electrolytes and urea of Wistar rats

Design & Methods: Twenty-five Male Adult rats were grouped into four consisting of six rats each. Group I served as control group, group II was administered 100mg/kg of the Aqueous extract, group III was administered 150mg/kg of the Aqueous extract, and Group IV was administered 200mg/kg of the Aqueous extract.

The administration took place for seven days, and on the eight day, The Animals were sacrificed. The blood samples was collected via cardiac puncture and used for analysis using a visible spectrophotometer.

Results: From the result, there was no significant difference (p<0.05) in body weight of Wistar rats. In the Test Groups; Serum cholesterol, low density lipoprotein (LDL), High density lipoprotein (HDL), Very Low-density Lipoprotein and Triglycerides revealed a significant increase (p<0.05) compared to Group 1 which is the control Group but had a significant decrease (p<0.05) compared within test groups. For electrolytes concentrations, potassium, Sodium, Chloride and Urea concentrations was significant at p<0.05.

Conclusion: the results above ,T. indica extract may help to maintain healthy weight, may have hypolipidemic properties, may help in body homeostatic and fluid balance and may also prevent renal damages.