Effect of Cashew Kernel and Soya Bean Oils on Blood Serum Cholesterol and Triglyceride of Albino Rats (Rattus rattus)

Cashew kernel oil was processed, used in combination with procured soya bean oil and used in the formulation of basal rat diets. Three rats were decapitated initially and their serum cholesterol (SC) determined before the feeding trial. The remaining 60 rats were randomly assigned into six groups of ten rats each labeled I, II, III, IV, V and VI. Basal diet (BD) alone was fed to I; which was used as the control. Group II was fed with BD and 0.20 g crystalline cholesterol (CC). Group III was fed BD and 2.0 g of cashew kernel oil (CKO). Group IV was fed BD and 2.0 g soya bean oil (SBO). Group V was fed with BD, 2.0 g CKO and 0.2 g CC. Group VI was fed BD, 2.0 g of SBO and 0.20 g CC. Feed and water was provided ad libitum for ten weeks. After which the effect of cholesterol, CKO and SBO on total serum cholesterol (SC) and triglyceride of the rats was analyzed. The result showed that addition of 0.20 g crystalline cholesterol to the BD resulted in significant (p<0.05) increase in total SC (128.60 mg/dl) as against 92.84 mg/dl of rats fed with BD. The serum triglyceride (ST) of rats fed CKO and SBO were 64.04 and 81.50 mg/dl, respectively and were lower than the ST of rats fed CC with a value of 101.29 mg/dl. CKO and SBO lowered the SC of the rats to 152.15 and 137.97 mg/dl, respectively from 158.60 mg/dl. Feeding rats with cashew kernel oil (CKO) and soya bean oil (SBO) has a positive effect in reducing serum cholesterol (SC) and triglyceride (ST).