Weight Reducing and Hypocholesterolaemic Effect of Aqueous Leaf Extract of Sansevieria senegambica Baker on Sub-Chronic Salt-Loaded Rats: Implication for the Reduction of Cardiovascular Risk.

The effect of aqueous leaf extract of Sansevieria senegambica on the body and organ weights, plasma lipid profile and atherogenic indices of sub-chronic salt loaded rats were investigated. The control group received a diet consisting 100% of the commercial feed, while the four test groups received a diet consisting 8% salt and 92% commercial feed all through, except for the reference treatment group that had its salt-loading discontinued after six weeks. The extract was orally administered daily at 150 and 200mg/kg body weight; while the test control, reference and control groups received appropriate volumes of water by the same route. The extract significantly (P<0.05) lowered the weight gain, plasma total-, LDL-and non-HDL-cholesterol, compared to test control; and plasma triglyceride levels, compared to values before treatment, in the test animals. This result confirms the use of S. senegambica in the management of hypertension, and suggests that the extract may have a possible dose dependent protective mechanism against the development of atherosclerosis and cardiovascular complications.