Effect of Some Nut Extracts and Ginger on the Lipid Profile of Hepatitis B Infected Mice

Aim: The determination of the effect of the tiger nut, coconut, coconut &tiger nut milk and ginger extract on the lipid profile of HBV infected mice

Study Design: The study was conducted using adult mice of which some where infected with hepatitis B virus while some which were not infected, served as control.

Place and Duration of Study: The study was carried out at the Rivers State University animal house and the study lasted for 2 months.

Methodology: Adult healthy mice were grouped into five (5). The groups 2 to 5 mice were infected with HBV and the infection was confirmed using HBsAg rapid kit after which those in groups, 3, 4 and 5 were given the extracts. The blood samples of the mice were collected and analyzed.

Results: The results showed that the TC, TG, HDL, LDL and VDL for the group1mice which were not inoculated had mean values of 4.63mmol/l,1.82mmol, 1.79mmol/l, 3.43mmol/l, 0.85mmol/l. The group 2 had mean values of 4.9mmol/l, 2.31mmol/l, 1.72mmol/l, 4.1mmol/l, 0.92mmol/l. The third group given the tigernut and ginger extract showed mean values of 4.7mmol/l, 2.04mmol/l, 1.9mmol/l, 3.83mmol/l, 0.63mmol/l. The fourth group given the coconut and ginger extract had mean values of 4.6mmol/l, 1.97mmol/l, 1.74mmol/l, 3.75mmol/l, 0.9mmol/l respectively. While the fifth group given the combination of coconut, tiger nut and ginger extract had mean values of 5.09mmol/l, 2.04mmol/l, 1.59mmol/l, 4.4mmol/l and 0.93mmol/l respectively.

Conclusion: The tigernut and coconut individual extract with ginger, had positive impacts with the coconut extract with ginger having a better impact on the lipid profile of the infected mice.