Abstract
In this study the cardiovascular benefits of okra powder (OP) have
been tested in low density lipoprotein receptor knockout (LDL-r-KO)
mice. OP was prepared at the Ibadan University, Nigeria. Male 4-week
LDL-r-KO mice were purchased from the Jackson Laboratories, USA.
The mice were divided into two groups of control and treated animals.
The control group (n=10) was fed with a mouse chow supplemented
with 0.06% (w/w) cholesterol; the treated group (n=9) received the
same control diet supplemented with 10% (w/w) OP. The study lasted
24 weeks. Body weight, food intake, and plasma lipid levels were
measured frequently over the study course. At sacrifice, final blood
samples and the hearts were collected and used for final biochemical
analyses and histological examinations of atherosclerotic lesions in
the aortic roots. By week 20 of the experiments, the treated mice had
33%, 40% and 11% reductions in plasma total cholesterol, plasma triglycerides
and body weight, respectively, as compared to those in the
control group. Morphological examinations of the aortic roots will
determine whether such beneficial effects in plasma lipid levels are
associated with reductions in atherosclerotic lesion size. Thus, additional
data are being collected to make the final conclusion of potential
lipid-lowering and anti-atherogenic properties of OP in this
animal model. Should OP shows effectiveness in prevention of atherogenesis
in this animal model, further studies in other animal models
warrant an investigation of potential mechanisms of action for such
beneficial effects of OP. (This study was approved by the Animal Care
Committee at the University of Manitoba. Financial support from the
University of Manitoba through University Research Grant Program (URGP) and Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of
Canada (NSERC) is acknowledged. The authors would like to thank the
St. Boniface Hospital Research Foundation for providing the infrastructure
that enabled this study.)
been tested in low density lipoprotein receptor knockout (LDL-r-KO)
mice. OP was prepared at the Ibadan University, Nigeria. Male 4-week
LDL-r-KO mice were purchased from the Jackson Laboratories, USA.
The mice were divided into two groups of control and treated animals.
The control group (n=10) was fed with a mouse chow supplemented
with 0.06% (w/w) cholesterol; the treated group (n=9) received the
same control diet supplemented with 10% (w/w) OP. The study lasted
24 weeks. Body weight, food intake, and plasma lipid levels were
measured frequently over the study course. At sacrifice, final blood
samples and the hearts were collected and used for final biochemical
analyses and histological examinations of atherosclerotic lesions in
the aortic roots. By week 20 of the experiments, the treated mice had
33%, 40% and 11% reductions in plasma total cholesterol, plasma triglycerides
and body weight, respectively, as compared to those in the
control group. Morphological examinations of the aortic roots will
determine whether such beneficial effects in plasma lipid levels are
associated with reductions in atherosclerotic lesion size. Thus, additional
data are being collected to make the final conclusion of potential
lipid-lowering and anti-atherogenic properties of OP in this
animal model. Should OP shows effectiveness in prevention of atherogenesis
in this animal model, further studies in other animal models
warrant an investigation of potential mechanisms of action for such
beneficial effects of OP. (This study was approved by the Animal Care
Committee at the University of Manitoba. Financial support from the
University of Manitoba through University Research Grant Program (URGP) and Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of
Canada (NSERC) is acknowledged. The authors would like to thank the
St. Boniface Hospital Research Foundation for providing the infrastructure
that enabled this study.)
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Article number | 44 |
| Pages (from-to) | S26 |
| Number of pages | 1 |
| Journal | Applied Physiology, Nutrition and Metabolism |
| Volume | 43 |
| Issue number | 4 |
| Publication status | Published - May 30 2018 |