Bay and camphor leaf powders as inhibitors for hyperlipidemia and hepatotoxicity associated with industrial trans-fats consumption in male rats

Trans-fats are found in large numbers of food products as well as naturally in some animal sources in small amounts.Their consumption was associated with a lot of health problems. The main objective of this study was to investigate the hypolipidemic and hepatoprotective effects of bay and camphor leaf powders (BLP and CLP, respectively) in trans-fat enriched diet -fed rats. Thirty six adult male albino rats were used and divided into six equal groups, including the control group while groups 2 to 6 were fed for six weeks on trans-fats enriched diet(TFED, 12% hydrogenated vegetable fat) only (group 2), TFED containing 0.5 and 1 % of BLP (groups 3 and 4, respectively), or TFED containing 0.5 and 1 % of CLP (groups 5 and 6, respectively). At the end, body weight gain was calculated. Lipid profile, liver functions, pancreatic lipase and insulin levels were determined in sera, while cholesterol and phospholipids levels and oxidative stress markers were determined in liver tissue. Moreover, the histopathological examination of liver was performed and phenolic compounds in both powders were determined. Feeding TFED resulted in overweight, hyperlipidemia and liver dysfunction along with oxidative stress, which was confirmed histopathologically. Due to their content of phenolic compounds rather than other antioxidant agents, BLP and CLP exerted anti-obesity and hypolipidemic protective properties and alleviated the risky effects of TFED on hepatocytes. Thus, bay and camphor leaf powders can be considered efficient inhibitors for hyperlipidemia and hepatotoxicity associated with trans-fats consumption.