Turmeric Powder Gavage Improves Lipid Profile of Albino Rats

Dyslipidemia is one of the key risk factors for cardiovascular diseases, which is a leading cause of global morbidity and mortality. This study was designed to investigate the effect of powdered Curcuma longa (turmeric) tubers on lipid profile of albino rats. Twenty-four (24) male albino rats were randomly divided into four groups (A-D), receiving once daily administration of distilled water, 50, 100 and 200 mg/kg of the powder respectively. The body weights of the animals were measured weekly, while lipid profile was determined after three weeks. The result showed that daily oral administration of graded doses of the C. longa powder for three weeks resulted in a non-significant increase in the body weights of the animals. Daily oral turmeric powder (200 mg/kg) treatment significantly (p ≤ 0.05) lowered the serum total cholesterol and triglyceride concentrations, while those that received 100 mg/kg significantly increased HDL-Cholesterol and reduced LDL-Cholesterol. Turmeric powder lowered total cholesterol, triglyceride and increasing HDL cholesterol in albino rats at the indicated doses and duration.