ISSN 2375-0723
African Journal of Food Science Research ISSN 2375-0723 Vol. 4 (5), pp. 054-058, December, 2016. © International Scholars Journals
Full Length Research Paper
A study of atherogenic property of oils extracted from Cucumeropsis mannii
Mercy Bih Achu1*, Elie Fokou1, Clergé Tchiégang2, Martin Fotso3 and Felicité Mbiapo Tchouanguep4
1Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Science, P. O. Box 812, University of Yaoundé I, Cameroon.
2Department of Food Science and Nutrition, ENSAI/IUT, Ngaoundéré, Cameroon.
3Centre for Research in Food and Nutrition, IMPM, Yaoundé, Cameroon.
4Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Science, University of Dschang, Cameroon.
*Corresponding author. E-mail: [email protected].
Accepted 03 February, 2016
Abstract
The atherogenicity of Cucumeropsis mannii and Cucumis sativus oils was compared to that of corn oil and palm oil. Female wistar albino rats of 6 weeks old weighing 58 – 65 g were randomly assigned to one of four diet groups: C. mannii and C. sativus oils (test diets) and corn and palm oil (control diets). There was weight gain in all the groups amounting to 128.65% (palm oil), 132.75% (C. mannii), 140.8% (C. sativus) and 153.45 (corn oil) with no significant difference. The weights of the livers ranged from 4.22 (palm oil) to 5.17 g (corn oil), ratio of weights of liver to that of rat, from 0.029 - 0.034 and percentage weight gain from 128.65 (palm oil) to 153.45% (corn oil). There was no significant difference in the values. For the atherogenic parameters measured, the triglyceride level ranged from 73 (palm oil) to 79.4 (C. sativus oil) with no significant difference. Total cholesterol levels ranged from 49.6 (corn oil) to 64.2 mg/dl ( C. sativus oil) with significantly lower values in the corn oil group but similar values in the rest of the groups. HDL ranged from 18.94 (C. mannii oil) to 32.8 (palm oil) which was significantly high, LDL from 6.2 (palm oil) to 25.06 mg/dl ( C. mannii oil) and atherogenic ratio (AR) from 0.2 (palm oil) to 1.61 (C. mannii) which was significantly high. The levels of these atherogenic parameters are far below the borderline level for oils to cause atherosclerosis, indicating that they could be potential good edible oils for reducing cardiovascular illnesses.
Keywords: Atherogenicity, oils, Cucumeropsis mannii, Cucumis sativus.