Volume 19, Issue 44, July - December, 2025

Lycopene, a Natural Hypolipidemic Adjuvant: Evidence from Cholesterol-Induced Wistar Rats

Aigbuduokhai Charles Idonuan¹, Uduak Anthony Inwang^2♦

¹Edo State College of Health Sciences and Technology, Edo State, Nigeria
²Department of Physiology, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, Alex Ekwueme Federal University, Ndufu Alike, Nigeria

^♦Corresponding author
Uduak Anthony Inwang, Department of Physiology, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, Alex Ekwueme Federal University, Ndufu Alike, Nigeria

ABSTRACT

Carotenoids are bioactive phytochemicals recognized for their health-promoting properties, with lycopene being a major representative. Several epidemiological studies have shown that Lycopene a red pigment in ripe tomatoes and their products reduces the risk of having cardiovascular disease (CVD). In this current study, the effect of lycopene on lipid profile in cholesterol-fed rats was investigated. The focus was on both dose- and time-dependent responses. Forty (40) Wistar rats (180–200 g) were assigned into five groups. The control group (n=5) received a basal diet only, while the cholesterol-induced group received 2% pure cholesterol without lycopene treatment. The treatment groups (n=10) were fed 2% cholesterol plus graded doses of lycopene (4, 8, and 12 mg/kg b.w.). Induction lasted 30 days, after which lycopene treatment was administered for 7 or 14 days. Blood samples collected from overnightfasted rats were analyzed for lipid profile. Total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TG), and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) were measured spectrophotometrically. In contrast, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) and very-low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (VLDL-C) were calculated using the Friedewald–Friedrickson formula. The cholesterol-fed group showed significantly (P<0.05) elevated TC, TG, LDL-C, and VLDL-C with reduced HDL-C compared to controls. Lycopene supplementation significantly decreased (P<0.05) TC, TG, LDL-C, and VLDL-C in a concentration- and time-dependent manner. Moreover, HDL-C significantly increased (P<0.05) after 14 days of treatment, although changes at 7 days were not significant (P>0.05). These findings suggest that lycopene ameliorates dyslipidemia by enhancing HDL-C and reducing other lipids, indicating its potential role in preventing hyperlipidemia.

Keywords: Lycopene, Carotenoid, Lipid profile, Cholesterol-fed rats, Hyperlipidemia, Cardiovascular disease

Drug Discovery, 2025, 19(44), e23dd3025

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Published: 18 October 2025