Effects of diet supplementation with cactus pear seeds and oil on serum and liver lipid parameters in rats

The purpose of this investigation was to evaluate the effects of diets enriched with cactus pear oil (CPO) or seeds (CPS) on serum and liver lipid parameters compared to those of adult rats submitted to a standard diet. Male rats were divided into three groups, the first group represented control group, fed with standard diet, the second group was fed with control diet supplemented with CPO (2.5%, wt/wt) and the third group fed control diet supplemented with CPS (33%, wt/wt), for nine weeks. Feed intake and body weight of rats were measured every two days. Organ weights were determined at the end of treatment; cholesterol, HDL and triglycerides levels were determined by enzymatic methods. Liver and serum lipid extracts were analysed for their fatty acid composition for the three groups of rats. No differences in pancreas, kidney or liver weights were observed in the CPS diet whereas the CPO diet induced a significant increase in liver and pancreas weights. The tested diets significantly decreased the atherogenic index compared to the control diet, whereas serum cholesterol level was only reduced by the supplementation with CPO diet. No variations in serum lipids were observed among the groups, whereas liver lipids showed slight variations. Accordingly, these results indicated that the supplementation with CPO or CPS could be effective in decreasing the atherogenic risk factors in rats.