Vol.:(0123456789) 1 3 Journal of Food Measurement and Characterization https://doi.org/10.1007/s11694-020-00612-z ORIGINAL PAPER Antioxidant activities of Celosia argentea Linn and Gongronema latifolium Benth and the antihyperlipidemic efect of the vegetable supplemented diets on fat induced hyperlipidemic rats Abimbola A. Adegbenro 1,2  · Sule O. Salawu 1  · Afolabi A. Akindahunsi 1 Received: 17 March 2020 / Accepted: 19 August 2020 © Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature 2020 Abstract The present study investigated the antioxidant activities and antihyperlipidemic efects of varying levels of inclusion of pro- cessed green leafy vegetables (Celosia argentea and Gongronema latifolium) on high fat diet-induced hyperlipidemic rats. The antioxidant assay revealed that the unblanched C. argentea had higher total phenolic content, total favonoid content, DPPH · , ABTS ·+ , OH · and NO · radical scavenging activities than the blanched Celosia argentea. Conversely, the blanched G. latifolium had higher antioxidant activities than the unblanched G. latifolium. Seventy-fve (75) male albino rats of aver- age weight 180 ± 20 g were divided into ffteen (15) groups of fve (5) animals each. The rats were fed for 4 weeks on diets specially formulated to contain 5%, 10% and 15% by weight of the leaves of the blanched and unblanched vegetables. lipid profle (TC: total cholesterol, TG: triglycerides, LDL: low density lipoproteins, VLDL: very low density lipoproteins and HDL: high density lipoproteins) and oxidative stress indicators were evaluated. The serum TC, TG, LDL and VLDL which signifcantly increased (p < 0.0001) in hyperlipidemic control group were signifcantly decreased (p < 0.05, 0.0001) at all levels of inclusion of the vegetal diets. HDL also increased signifcantly (p < 0.0001) in groups fed with the vegetal diets. In addition, glutathione peroxidase, reduced glutathione, catalase and superoxide dismutase activities signifcantly increased (p < 0.05, 0.0001); while TBARS signifcantly decreased at all levels of inclusion of the vegetal diets. These results suggested that incorporation of C. argentea and G. latifolium into the diet most especially blanched C. argentea and unblanched G. latifolium may have therapeutic potentials in the management of hyperlipidemia and associated complications. Keywords Celosia argentea · Gongronema latifolium · Lipid profle · Oxidative stress indicators · High-fat diet · Hyperlipidemia Introduction Hyperlipidemia is a condition of excess fatty substances called lipids, largely cholesterol and triglycerides, in the blood [1]. It is also identifed as dyslipidemia, to describe the manifestations of different disorders of lipoprotein metabolism. Hyperlipidemia is associated with many important complications such as diabetes, coronary artery disease, myocardial infarction, angina pectoris, pulmonary dysfunction, stroke, and more [2]. Hyperlipidemia is an increasing problem in modern societies, due in part to the adoption of rapid lifestyle which involves high dietary intake of carbohydrates and fat accompanied by reduced energy consumption [3]. In the past two decades, hyperlipidemia, hypertension and hyperglycemia have gained the attention of medical researchers, who are combating these morbid and mortal pathological conditions. These pathological states which eventually lead to the development of cardiovascular metabolic syndrome are the leading cause of morbidity and mortality throughout the world [4]. Free radicals, especially Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS) are generated spontaneously in cells during metabolism and their over-production is implicated in the pathogenesis of certain human diseases such as hypertension, diabetes mel- litus, cancer, aging, hyperlipidemia, chronic arterial disease and neurodegenerative disorders. It has, however, been * Sule O. Salawu sosalawu@futa.edu.ng 1 Department of Biochemistry, Federal University of Technology, P.M.B. 704, Akure, Nigeria 2 Department of Physical and Chemical Sciences, Elizade University, Ilara Mokin, Nigeria