INVESTIGATION OF CHOLESTEROL AND BLOOD GLUCOSE-REDUCING PROPERTIES AND ACUTE TOXICITIES OF THE TEA PREPARED BY VERNONIA CINEREA L. USING WISTAR RAT ANIMAL MODEL AND QUANTIFICATION OF FLAVONOID AND PHENOLIC CONTENTS

Abstract

According to Ayurvedic and folkloric medicine of Sri Lanka, tea prepared using dried leaf powder of Vernonia cinerea L. (S. Monarakudummbiya) has many therapeutic effects including blood glucose and cholesterol-reducing properties. The study investigate cholesterol and blood glucose-reducing properties and acute toxicities exerted by V. cinerea L tea and quantify the total phenolic and flavonoid content. Three months Wistar (20) rats were recruited for the study and divided randomly (n=10) into two groups. One group of rats was daily given tea prepared using the leaf powder of V. cinerea while the other group was given an equal volume of distilled water. Their baseline biochemical parameters, such as blood glucose, total cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein (HDL-cholesterol), triglycerides, creatinine levels, alanine transaminase (ALT), aspartate transaminase (AST) activities were measured. This experiment was carried out for 28 continuous days and repeated the same biochemical parameters on the 29^th day. In addition, total phenolic and flavonoid contents were evaluated in the V. cinerea tea. There was a significant increment of HDL cholesterol levels whilst total cholesterol, triglycerides and blood glucose remained unaffected. There was no significant increase in ALT, AST and creatinine, indicating no acute toxicities in the prepared tea. Total phenolic and total flavonoid content in V. cinerea tea were GAE/g of extract at 28.62±1.06 and 19.20±2.7 respectively. V. cinerea tea was rich in therapeutically important phytochemicals such as phenols and flavonoids that can significantly increase HDL cholesterol levels in Wistar rats. V. cinerea can be further improved as a green tea.