Hypolipidemic and Hepatoprotective Effects of Methanol Extract of Carica Papaya Leaves in High-Fat Diet-Induced Hyperlipidemic Rats

This study investigated the hypolipidaemic potential of the methanol leaf extract of Carica papaya in the liver of albino rats fed a formulated cow-brain diet, and reported that its effect was compared with that of a standard statin drug (Atorvastatin). Thirty-five (35) albino rats were used and divided into seven (7) groups of five (5) rats each. Group I, which received a normal diet (ND), served as the positive control. Group II was fed a formulated high-cholesterol diet (FHD) and served as the negative control. Group III (ND + 62 mg/kg) was pre-treated before induction, while groups IV, V and VI were induced with FHD and treated with 31, 62, and 124 mg/kg of C. papaya leaf extract, respectively. Group VII (Ator) was induced with the formulated cow-brain tissue and treated with Atorvastatin. The experiment was conducted for 28 days. Biochemical analysis indicated that induction with the formulated cow-brain tissue significantly increased serum lipid profiles, including total cholesterol (225.50 ± 9.93 mg/dL vs. 131.75 ± 9.02 mg/dL in ND) and LDL (104.75 ± 6.42 mg/dL vs. 66.5 ± 5.47 mg/dL in ND), with the exception of HDL. Liver function parameters were also elevated: AST (36.25 ± 8.26 U/L), ALT (39.75 ± 5.91 U/L), and ALP (220.25 ± 14.57 U/L), all showing significant (p