Comparative effects of onion (Allium cepa L.) and alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) on blood plasma cholesterol of ICR mouse (Mus musculus L.) fed with a high-fat diet

摘要

The study was conducted to compare the effects of onion (Allium cepa L.) and alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) on plasma cholesterol of high fat-fed mice subjects. It is hypothesized that onion and alfalfa can inhibit the increase of plasma cholesterol. The negative control group was only given normal diet of 10% w/w mice feed while the positive control group was given high-fat diet, which consisted of 10% w/w mice feed and 10% w/w of lard. The other two groups were given 10% w/w mice feed, 10% w/w lard and respective treatment: alfalfa and onion administered at 500 mg/kg. Treatments were administered via gavage needle before meal was given. Plasma cholesterol levels at the start and end of the 10-day experiment were determined. Results showed that mice cholesterol levels attained significant differences within the different groups. Onion-treated group was significantly different from positive control group but was also significantly different from negative control group suggesting there was inhibition of the cholesterol increase to some extent. The alfalfa treated group is not significantly different from the negative control group, indicating that alfalfa had the best cholesterol inhibiting capacity among the two treatments. This suggests that intake of alfalfa sprouts during high-fat diet can help inhibit absorption of cholesterol.