The effects of turmeric, strawberry, and broccoli on dyslipidemia, and hepatic histopathology in male Wistar rats

Abstract

Dyslipidemia is a major independent risk factor for cardiovascular disease and requires effective management strategies, including dietary modification and the use of medicinal plants. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of turmeric ethanol extract, strawberry juice, and broccoli juice on lipid profile parameters and hepatic histopathology in male Wistar rats with high-fat diet–induced dyslipidemia. Fifteen male Wistar rats aged 6–8 weeks were randomly divided into five groups: negative control receiving standard feed, positive control receiving a high-fat diet, and three treatment groups receiving turmeric ethanol extract, strawberry juice, or broccoli juice. The high-fat diet (60 g/cage/day) was administered for 11 weeks, followed by four weeks of treatment with turmeric ethanol extract (270 mg/kg body weight/day), strawberry juice (9 g/kg body weight/day), or broccoli juice (9 g/kg body weight/day). Administration of turmeric ethanol extract and strawberry juice significantly reduced total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein, and triglyceride levels, whereas broccoli juice reduced low-density lipoprotein and triglyceride levels without significantly affecting total cholesterol. Histopathological examination of liver tissue demonstrated that turmeric ethanol extract and broccoli juice exerted protective effects against hepatic steatosis and hepatocellular necrosis, while strawberry juice showed no significant hepatoprotective effect. These findings indicate that turmeric ethanol extract and broccoli juice possess both hypolipidemic and hepatoprotective properties, whereas strawberry juice primarily exhibits hypolipidemic activity in male Wistar rats with high-fat diet–induced dyslipidemia.