Effects of Lotus (Nelumbo Nucifera Gaertner) Leaf Powder on Lipid Concentrations in Rats Fed High Fat Diet Rats

The effects of Lotus (Nelumbo nucifera Gaertner) leaf dry powder on serum lipid concentrations were evaluated in rats. Forty-eight male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into six groups and fed high fat diets for sis weeks. Experimental groups were following diets; Control group (CON), 40 % animal and plant high fat group (AHF and PHF) control with 2% Lotus leaf dry powder group (CLDP), animal and plant high fat diets with 2% Lotus leaf powder group (AHFLDP, PHFLDP). Tissue weights of liver, heart, kidney, spleen and lung of AHF group exposed rats were decreased by PHFLDP groups. The concentrations of serum triglyceride in rats fed the CLDP and PHFLDP group were lower than those in other groups. The concentrations of total cholesterol in CLDP and PHFLDP group the were lower than those in AHF groups. The concentrations of HDL-cholesterol in serum of the CLDP and PHFLDP groups were significantly higher than those of other groups. The levels of LDL-cholesterol in serum of the CLDP and PHFLDP groups were tended to be lower than those of other groups. GPT and GOT were decreased in CLDP and PHFLDP groups and than in the AHF group. LDHase was lower in CLDP and PHFLDP groups than in the AHF group. These results suggest that 2% Lotus leaf dry powder groups may reduce elevated levels of serum lipid concentrations in rats fed high fat.