The Effect Of Pumpkin Seed Feeding On The Serum Lipid Profile And C-Reactive Protein In Atherogenic Rats

Abstract

The aim of the present study was to examine the effect of pumpkin seeds feeding on the serum lipid profile and c-reactive protein in rats developed atherosclerosis through an atherogenic diet . Male Wistar rats were divided into two main groups , control and atherogenic groups , each group composed of three subgroups , each consisted of ten rats. Groups were categorized as follow : Group 1. Rats were kept on a standard laboratory diet only. Group2. Rats were kept on a standard laboratory diet and supplemented with 2% Arginine in drinking water . Group 3. Rats were kept on a standard laboratory diet and supplemented with pumpkin seeds ( 43% w/w) , that was equivalent to 2% arginine . Group 4. Rats were kept on an atherogenic diet only. Group 5. Rats were kept on an atherogenic diet and supplemented with 2% Arginine in drinking water . Group 6. Rats were kept on an atherogenic diet and supplemented with pumpkin seeds ( 43% w/w) , that equivalent to 2% arginine. Supplementation continued for eight weeks . Results of this study showed that rats supplemented an atherogenic diet with pumpkin seeds showed a significant decrease ( p<0.001 ) in their total cholesterol serum concentrations and low density lipoprotein cholesterol serum concentrations as they were dropped from 4.89 mmol /L to 2.55 mmol /L and from 3.33 mmol /L to 0.70 mmol / L respectively. HDL-C serum concentrations were also significantly elevated (p<0.001) in the same group. Although rats supplemented an atherogenic diet with 2% arginine in drinking water showed significant increase (p < 0.001) in HDL-C serum concentration, however no significant changes were observed in their total cholesterol serum concentrations and LDL – C serum concentrations. Findings of the present investigation concluded that the feeding of rats an atherogenic diet with pumpkin seeds significantly decreases TC serum concentrations (p<0.001 ) and LDL-C serum concentrations (p<0.001).This findings suggests that pumpkin seeds supplementation has a protective role on atherosclerosis and this protective role is not belonging to the high arginine concentrations in pumpkin seeds .