Evaluación de la actividad Hipocolesterolémica del néctar de Guatila (Sechium edule) en ratas (rattus norvegicus) con Hipercolesterolemia inducida

Abstract

The evaluation of hypocholesterolemic activity on guatila’s nectar (Sechium edule) in rats (Rattus norvegicus) with induced hypercholesterolemia was performed in the animal facility at the Biochemistry and Pharmacy School of the Chimborazo Higher Polytechnic School in order to get a natural alternative for hypercholesterolemia treatment. To evaluate if guatila’s nectar (Sechium edule) has hypocholesterolemic activity; we used 18 Wistar full-blooded rats divided into 6 groups: GA (White), GB (Positive control), GC (Negative control), GD (Investigative Group 1 guatila’s nectar [1g / Kg]), GE (Investigative Group 2 guatila’s nectar [2g / Kg]), GF (Investigative Group 3 guatila’s nectar [4g / Kg]), all treatments orally administered. Hypercholesterolemia was induced in experimental animals by a high fat diet within a period of 5 weeks. Following, we started the treatment of the disease with guatila’s nectar (Sechium edule) to the investigative groups and the Atorvastatin solution to the positive control for a period of 6 days; during that time, blood samples from the coccygeal vein were taken at 1 hour, 3 hours, and 6 hours to measure cholesterol levels by the bio- reflectometric method and at the sixth day; euthanasia was given to the animals in order to get blood samples to measure the final cholesterol level through the enzymatic routine method in clinical laboratory, the analysis of data was made using ANOVA (Analysis of value variance) and Tukey HSD test with 95% confidence interval. It was verified that the 3 treatments based on guatila’s nectar (Sechium edule) had hypocholesterolemic effect, being 4g/Kg concentration treatment the most effective producing a significant decrease in cholesterol levels. Through the toxicological and histopathological study it was observed that the nectar is not toxic at any doses; so, it is safe for consumption. It is recommended to bring the investigation at an industrial level to obtain a functional product made from the guatila’s nectar (Sechium edule) in order to get a natural alternative for the hypercholesterolemia treatment.