Abstract
Production of dabai (Canarium odontophyllum) pulp oil by supercritical carbon dioxide extraction is still relatively new and should be investigated. The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of supercritical carbon dioxide (SC-CO2) extracted dabai pulp oil (DPO) on rats induced with hypercholesterolemia. Male-specific pathogen free (SPF) Sprague-Dawley rats were fed with diets with high cholesterol contents for 4 weeks to induce hypercholesterolemia. Afterwards, the hypercholesterolemia rats were divided into groups namely: positive control group (PG), low dose group (LG), high dose group (HG), and statin group (SG). 0.5% and 2% of SC-CO2 DPO were administered to the LG and HG groups respectively for another 4 weeks. Changes in body weight and biochemistry profiles were measured. When compared with the normal rats that were fed with a normal basal diet, the hypercholesterolemia rats had elevated body weights and major increments in total cholesterol and LDL levels(NG) (p<0.05). Paired-samples t-tests showed that the LG group exhibited a notable reduction in total cholesterol, triglyceride and LDL levels (p<0.05) and an 8.26% increment in HDL level. Meanwhile, diminishing levels of total cholesterol, triglyceride and LDL levels were found in the HG group. Notable differences in AST and ALT levels were not detected in LG and HG groups when compared with the NG group. These results indicated that SC-CO2dabai pulp oil contains vital elements which contribute to cholesterol-loweringeffects and which can be used as special oils for health promotion and disease prevention.