Effect of Psyllium Seeds and Its Husk on Hypercholesterolemic Rats

This study was performed to investigate the outcome of psyllium seeds and their husk on lipid profile for 8 weeks of hypercholesterolemic rats. A number of 36 mature male rats were split into two groups. The first six rats in the study were fed a standard diet (served as – ve control group). The second main group (30 rats) was fed on high cholesterol diet to induce hypercholesterolemia for six weeks, then was divided as follows: Subcategories (1) was fed on a diet with high cholesterol (as a positive control group). Subcategories (2 and 3) were on a diet with high cholesterol supplemented with 2.5% and 5% Psyllium husk powder, respectively. Subcategories (4 and 5) were fed on high cholesterol diet supplemented with 2.5 % and 5% Psyllium seed powder, respectively. The results revealed that liver functions were found to be significantly decreased (P<0.05) by Psyllium husk or seeds at the tested levels. Serum kidney functions and lipid profile were appreciably (P<0.05) decreased. At the same time, HDL-C was noticeably increased by psyllium seeds or husk supplementation at the tested levels in comparison to the positive control group