Evaluation of Anti-hyperlipidaemic Potential of Gum Arabic in Experimentally Induced Hyperlipidaemia in Donkeys

Abstract

Hyperlipaemia is a pathophysiological response to prolonged negative energy balance associated with gross lipaemia. This study was designed to determine whether treating with gum Arabic would lower plasma lipids in a group of donkeys with experimentally induced hyperlipidaemia. Three groups each of six male donkeys were subjected to four days fasting to induce hyperlipidaemia and then they were randomly assigned to receive either 25 or 50 g/day of gum Arabic for seven successive days or left untreated. Following fasting triglycerides level was increased significantly (P<0.05) in the plasma of donkeys in the three groups. Simultaneous increase in Plasma level of cholesterol, urea, creatinine and albumin was also observed in the three groups following fasting. No significant difference was observed in total protein and glucose concentration as well as AST and ALT activities. Treatment of donkeys with gum Arabic with 25mg/day resulted in significant decrease in the plasma level of triglycerides, cholesterol, urea and creatinine. The level of triglycerides in the group treated with 50g/day exhibited no significant decrease and remained at high level up to the end of the experiment. The concurrent decrease in urea and creatinine may indicate a further positive effect in kidney function. Here it is to be concluded that gum Arabic at dose rate of 25g/day for seven successive days has positive effect in lowering plasma triglycerides level in donkeys with experimentally induced hyperlipdaemia; and that the increase in the gum Arabic dose was not necessary to affect the level of triglycerides in donkeys.