Effect of Dietary Incorporation of Gongronema Lati/olium, Vernonia Amygdalina and Telfairia Occidentalis Leaves at Various Levels on the Lipid Profile of Rats.

The effects of dietary incorporation (w/w) of Gongronema latifolium, Vernonia amygdalina, and Telfairia occidentalis leaves on the lipid profiles of rats were compared, following their feeding for 28 days on specially formulated diets while the control rats were fed standard diet. Total cholesterol, triacylglycerols and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels were decreased (p<0.05), irrespective of type of dietary leaves, however, the high-density lipoprotein cholesterol level increased (P<0.05) relative to the control. Dietary incorporation of Telfairia occidentalis and Vernonia amygdalina leaves also lowered (p<0.05) the serum total cholesterol level as compared to Gongronema latifolium. The leaves of Vernonia amygdalina significantly lowered the serum triacylglycerols level as compared toGongronema latifolium and Telfairia occidentalis. Incorporation of later leaves reduced (P<0.05) serum concentration of low density lipoprotein-cholesterol relative to Gongronema latifolium. For high density lipoprotein-cholesterol, Telfairia occidentalis increased the serum high density lipoprotein-cholesterol levels relative to Vernonia amygdalina and Gongronema latifolium. It was concluded that Telfairia occidentalis has the mest promising therapeutic potential followed by Vernonia amygdalina and Gongronema latifolium.