CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1 BACKGROUND OF STUDY

Lipid and lipoprotein abnormalities play a major role in the

development and progression of coronary artery diseases. Low levels of high

density lipoprotein cholesterols have been identified as independent

coronary risk factors (Rodrigue et al. 2010). High level of blood cholesterol

is responsible for circulatory system disorder. Increase level of low density

lipoprotein (LDL) is alarming for cardiovascular diseases and their risk is

increased many times (Harman et al. 2011).

In developing countries the occurrence of heart diseases increases

rapidly (Nordestgard et al. 2010). Medical studies show that about 70% of

adults over 50 years old suffer atherosclerosis. (Sherien and Azza 2009). A

large number of synthetic hypolipidemic drugs are available in market. Long

term use of these drugs cause serious side effects and are costly.

A medicinal plant is any plant which in one or more of its organ

contains substance that can be used for therapeutic purpose or which is a

precursor for synthesis of useful drugs (Sivakumar et al. 2007). Plant

contains a large number of bioactive phytochemicals that are responsible for

pharmacological action of plants and used for development of drugs. Many

medicinal plants have shown their antilipidemic effect and proved their

efficacy in cardiovascular diseases (Nordestgard et al. 2010; Wang 1999).

One of such plants used very often in the management of the disease

by the traditional medicine practitioners of Eastern Nigeria is Desmodium

velutium a perennial plant erect or semi-erect shrub or sub-shrub up to 3m

light. It is widely distributed in subtropical Asia and tropical Africa. (Amowi

and Azode 2012).

Extracts of Desmodium velutium are used traditionally in some

disease conditions particularly aphrodisiac and headache. Hence

Desomdium velutium may be a source of a pharmacological active agent

useful in the treatment of aches pains and diarrhoea. In Ghana native

doctors mix the root of Desmodium lasincarpum with some hot peppers and

use it as enema to cure blood in urine. In Eastern States of Nigeria the plant

locally known as “Ikeagwuani”. (Onyegbule et al. 2012). In these present

studies I investigated the antilipidemic activity of the water (H

2

O) extract of

Desmodium velutinum Leaves on albino wistar rats.