PHYTOCHEMICAL SCREENING AND EVALUATION OF THE ANTIHYPERCHOLESTEROLEMIC ACTIVITY OF THE CAKE OF SAFOU (DACRYODES EDULIS) IN RATS (RATTUS NORVEGICUS)

Safou (Dacryodes edulis) is consumed by the Ivorian population for its therapeutic virtues. The present study aims to make known the phytochemical composition and antihypercholesterolemic activity of safou cake. For this, phytochemical screening of the aqueous extract of the pulp cake of the safou was carried out. In addition, the antihypercholesterolemic activity of cake was tested in rats (Rattus norvegicus). Results obtained indicate that the aqueous extract of cake contains secondary metabolites such as polyphenols, flavonoids, saponins, polyterpenes and sterols and alkaloids. Moreover, this extract allowed, at a dose of 300 mg / kg of PC, to decrease the blood concentration of compounds such as VLDL-C, LDL-C, triglycerides, total cholesterol and total lipids.On the other hand, at a dose of 100 mg / kg of PC of this extract, the blood level of HDL-C increased significantly in hypercholesterolemic rats (PË‚0.05). This study confirms the antihypercholesterolemic activity of safou cake.Therefore, safou cake could be used to prevent oxidative stress, arterosclerosis, high blood pressure, diabetes and ischemic cardiovascular disease.