Assessment of Anti-lipidaemic Effects of Aqueous and Ethanolic Seed Extracts of Datura stramonium on Male Albino Rats

Aim: This study was carried out to investigate anti-lipidaemic effects of aqueous and ethanolic seed extracts of Datura stramonium. Methods: A total of twenty five albino rats weighing between 150 – 180 g were used. They were divided into five groups each contained five rats. Group 1, was the normal control and thus received normal saline. Groups 2 and 3 were treated respectively with aqueous extract at doses of 300 mg/kg and 600 mg/kg while groups 4 and 5 respectively received 300 mg/kg and 600 mg/kg ethanolic extract. The extracts were administered orally and the animals were sacrificed on the day 8 and the blood samples collected via retro-orbital plexus. The blood was then centrifuged after fifteen minutes and serum obtained for lipid profile analysis.  Results: The total cholesterol level generally decreased significantly (p < 0.05) in test groups, except in group 2 (0.502 ±.008 mg/dl) which received lower aqueous extract dose of 300 mg/kg. There was a significant decrease (p < 0.05) in triacylglycerol (TG) levels in groups of 2 and 3 (groups treated with aqueous extract) but indicated a significant (p < 0.05) increase in group 4 (0.15 ± .003 mg/dl) which received high ethanolic extract dose. The high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) levels increased significantly (p < 0.05) in groups 4 and 5 with the mean values of 0.164 ± .002 mg/dl and 0.147 ± .004 mg/dl respectively. The mean values of the low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) level generally indicated a significant (p < 0.05) decrease in all test groups, the decrease was more significant in groups 4 and 5 with mean values of 0.065 ± .00 mg/dl and 0.069 ± .00 mg/dl, when compared with groups 2 and 3. Conclusions: This study proves that both aqueous and ethanolic extracts of Datura stramonium possess anti-lipidaemic property. The ethanolic extract had higher anti-lipidaemic property than the aqueous extract. Both extracts might be useful in the treatement of some cancers and cardiovascular diseases.