Effect of Dietary Fiber, Ocimum canum and Psyllium Seed, in High Cholesterol-diet Fed Rats

The aim of this study was to investigate the long term effect of dietary fiber, Ocimum canum and psyllium seed, on body weight and lipid level in blood of high cholesterol-diet fed rats. A total of 36 rats were divided into 3 groups. There were 6-male and 6-female rats in each group. The control group (CTR) received the standard diet added with 2.5% cholesterol of dry feed (HCD). The Ocimum canum (Trt-OC) and the psyllium seed group (Trt-PS) received the HCD added with Ocimum canum and psyllium seed at the amount of 10% of the dry feed, respectively. Daily feed intake was recorded. Body weight was measured and blood was collected on the starting date and on the 4th, 8th, 16th, and 24th weeks. Complete blood count and blood chemistry were analysed. Analyses of variance were performed using the PROC GLM in SAS software for body weight (BW), cholesterol, and triglyceride (TG). There was a significant effect of the diet on BW (p<0.001) and cholesterol (p<0.01). The BW and cholesterol in this TRT-PS group was lowest (p<0.05). There was a significant effect of time on BW, cholesterol and TG (p<0.001). A significant increases in BW was observed in both sexes in all groups (p<0.05). The cholesterol and TG of the male rat, in the CTR groups, significantly increased from the starting date to the 24th weeks (p<0.05). These results suggest that mixing of dietary fiber (i.e. Ocimum canum seeds and psyllium seeds) might be beneficial to control of the cholesterol level in high fat diet