ABSTRACT

Vegetables and fruit provide a significant part of human nutrition, as they are important sources of nutrients, dietary fibre, and phytochemicals.

Sixty (60) albino rats were used to study the effect vegetables extracts modified diets; grouped into, one group was fed with high sucrose diet while others were fed with normal ratchow. After 3weeks of feeding respective vegetable extracts were introduced into their diets and fed for one week. Liver function test and lipid profile status were analysed on plasma.  This work revealed a significant (p<0.05) increase in AST, ALT and Triglyceride, LDL and total cholesterol in plasma and of rats fed with high sucrose diet only (HSO) while it significantly (p<0.05) decrease HDL. High Sucrose Only and High Sucrose Ugwu Juice are detrimental to the plasma and are not good for consumption as they both excessively increased the level of triglyceride in plasma. Intake of these diets can lead to a serious cardiovascular risk.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

CHAPTER ONE

1.0     Introduction

CHAPTER TWO

2.0     Cardiovascular disease and free radicals

2.1     Vegetable plants

2.1.1  Telferia occidentalis (Ugwu)

2.1.2  Vernonia amygdalina (Efo ewuro)

2.2     Plasma

2.3     Liver function tests

2.3.1  Aspartate transaminase (AST)

2.3.2  Alanine aminotransferase        (ALT)

2.4     Lipid Profile

CHAPTER THREE

3.0     Materials and Methods

3.1     Apparatus and Equipments

3.2     Chemical reagents

3.3     Collection and extraction of plant materials

3.4     Methods

3.5     Organ Homogenization

3.6     Biochemical Analysis

3.7     Statistical Analysis

CHAPTER FOUR                                                                

4.0     Results

CHAPTER FIVE

5.0     Discussion, Conclusion and Recommendation

5.1     Discussion

5.2     Conclusion

5.3     Recommendation

          References

Appendix.