BIOCHEMICAL RESPONSE IN RATS TO THE ADDITION OF CURRY LEAF (MURRAYA-KOENIGII) AND MUSTARD SEEDS (BRASSICA-JUNCEA) TO THE DIET

Three groups with 12 weanling male albino rats were group fed for 90 d ays on a standard laboratory rat diet plus 20% coconut oil either with out a supplement or with the addition of 10% curry leaf or 10% mustard seeds. Feed was offered at a level of 10% body weight. At the end of the trial, measurements were made on the total serum cholesterol, high density lipoproteins, low density lipoproteins, and very low density lipoproteins fractions, release of lipoproteins into the circulation, lecithin cholesterol acyl transferase activity and lipoprotein lipase activity. Feed intake and mean body weight of the rats on each treatme nt was not significantly different. Both spices resulted in a reductio n in total serum cholesterol and LDL + VLDL, an increase in the HDL, l ower release of lipoproteins into the circulation and an increase in t he LCAT activity.