Salmonellae typhi infestation is known to raise cholesterol levels and induce oxidatitive stress secondary to lipid peroxidation. The hypolipidaemic and anti – peroxidative effects of Phyllanthus Amarus on Salmonellae typhi infected rats were investigated in this study. The experimental animals were randomly divided into three study groups. Group I received feed and water and was not induced with typhoid (negative control). Groups II and III received in addition to feed and water a single dose of stock Salmonellae typhi at a concentration of 106 CFU/ML. After seven days, widal test confirmed typoid infection and group II were not treated with the extract but rats in group III were treated with 750mg/kg body weight ethanolic extract of Phyllanthus Amarus for ten days at the end of which animals were sacrificed and blood serum obtained for analysis of serum lipids and oxidative stress indices using standard laboratory methods. In group II (positive control), there were significant increases (p<0.05) in serum total cholesterol, LDL – cholesterol and triacylglycerol concentration and a decease (p < 0.05) in serum HDL – cholesterol relative to the non induced negative control. In group III, the rats recorded a significantly (p<0.05) lower serum total cholesterol, LDL - cholesterol and triacylglycerol; and higher HDL – cholesterol (p<0.05) when compared to the Salmonellae typhi induced positive control. Similarly, hepatic glutathione peroxidase activity was significantly decreased while malondialdehyde concentration activity was increased significantly (p<0.05) in rats in group II when compared to negative control. However, rats in group III showed significant increase (p<0.05) in hepatic glutathione peroxidase activity while malondialdehlyde concentration was decreased significantly (p<0.05) when compared to positive control. The results suggest that treatment of Salmonellae typhi infection with ethanolic extract of Phyllanthus Amarus reduced hyperlipidaemia and lipid peroxidation induced by Salmonellae typhi infection in rats.
