Effects of Alkaloids of Cocos nucifera Husk Fibre on Cardiovasular Disease Indices in Albino Mice Bamikole OJ*, Adewumi O.S Public Health Biotechnology, Institute of Child Health, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria ABSTRACT Background: The fight against cardiovascular disease remains a challenge as it is a disease which affects the heart and blood vessels. The use of Cocos nucifera husk fibre in disease treatment in Nigeria is generally high. It is important to know the effect of the alkaloids of the plant in relation to cardiovascular diseases. Methods: 48 albino mice with average weight of 18.28 ± 0.57 g were randomly divided into six groups (A to F) of eight albino mice each with group A as control while groups B,C,D,E,F and were administered 31.25, 62.5, 125, 250 and 500 mg/kg weight of the extract respectively. At the end of 7 days of administration, the animals were sacrificed and the serum was collected and various lipid parameters determined. Results and Conclusion: The results revealed that the alkaloids caused a significant increase (p<0.05) in Triglyceride and Very low density lipoprotein concentrations at the doses of 62.5 and 125 mg/kg body weight compared to control. The alkaloids did not significantly alter (p˃0.05) Serum total cholesterol and Low density lipoprotein- cholesterol concentrations but significantly reduced (p<0.05) High density lipoprotein–cholesterol concentration at all doses administered compared to control. The alkaloids caused a significant increase (p<0.05) in atherogenic index at the doses of 62.5 and 125 mg/kg the result suggest that the alkaloids of Cocos nucifera husk fibre may predispose subjects to cardiovascular diseases. Keywords: Cardiovascular disease; Cocos nucifera; Alkaloids; Medicinal plants; Cholesterol; Lipoproteins INTRODUCTION Cardiovascular disease (CVD) refers to diseases of the heart and blood vessels, and include conditions such as coronary heart diseases (also know as isheamic heart disease), cerebrovascular disease (stroke {ischemic and hermorrhagic}), heart failure, rheumatic heart disease and hypertension (high blood pressure) [1]. The causes of cardiovascular disease are diverse but atherosclerosis and or hypertension are the most common [2]. Evidence suggests a number of risk factors for heart disease: age, gender, high blood pressure, tobacco smoking, excessive alcohol consumption, sugar consumption, family history, obesity, lack of physical activities, high serum cholesterol levels etc. [3]. Globally, cardiovascular diseases are the number one cause of death and they are projected to remain so, from an estimated 58million deaths in a 2005 survey, 17 million people died from cardiovascular disease, representing 30% of all global deaths however there is a difference in ranges from as high as 58% in Eastern Europe to as low as 10% in Sub Saharan Africa [4]. According to Gaziano et al. [5], the deaths rates in High Income countries are approximately 38% percent while in low and middle income countries, they have a lower CVD death rate of 28% and this could be associated with the of the whites. It is important to recognize that a substantial proportion of these deaths (46%) were of people under 70 years of age in the more productive period of life; in addition, 79% of the disease burden attributed to cardiovascular disease is in this age group [6]. The fight against cardiovascular disease remains a challenge as it is a disease which affects the heart and blood vessels [1]. A critical challenge is observed in coronary disease; a disease of the heart and coronary arteries caused by the buildup of fatty C a r d i o v a s c u l a r P h a r m a c o l o g y : O p e n A c c e s s ISSN: 2329-6607 Cardiovascular Pharmacology: Open Access Research Article *Correspondence to: Mr. Oluwayemi Joshua Bamikole, Institute of Child Health, University Of Ibadan, Nigeria, Tel: +2347068505498/2348053091693; E-mail: Bamikoleyemi@gmail.com / yemibams@yahoo.com Received: March 19, 2019; Accepted: April 02, 2019; Published: April 09, 2019 Citation: Bamikole OJ, Adewumi OS (2019) Effects of Alkaloids of Cocus Nucifera Husk Fibre on Cardiovasular Disease Indices in Albino Mice. Cardiovasc Pharm Open Access. 8: 253. doi: 10.4172/2329-6607.1000253 Copyright: © 2019 Bamikole OJ, et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited. Cardiovasc Pharm Open Access, Vol.8 Iss.2 No:1000253 1