Effect of a Mixture of Allium Cepa and Camellia Sinensis Extracts On Hyperlipidemia Male Wistar Rats

ABSTRACT The burden of hyperlipidemia is on the rise globally especially in many low income countries like Uganda. Management of this metabolic disorder mainly involves dietary and behavioral therapies, which are often met with poor results as they require time and discipline from the patients. The chemotherapeutic options available are expensive, are associated with many side effects and are not readily available to the average citizen. Thus, an alternative effective remedy which is readily available and cheap is needed to combat the problem of hyperlipidemia. This study sought to establish the combination of Allium cepa and Camellia sinensis extracts with the highest antioxidant activity and evaluated the effect of this mixture on the plasma lipid profile of the male wistar rats. It also assessed the toxic effect of the mixture on the liver. The mixture of Allium cepa and Camellia sinensis at a ratio of 3:7 had the highest antioxidant activity. It reduced body weight, reduced total cholesterol, increased HDL and had no toxicity to the liver. It has thus been recommended as a potential therapy for hyperlipidemia and its associated complication of liver toxicity. A further study on the kinetics of the interaction of the antioxidants in the mixture has also been recommended.