Effect of wild sunflower (Tithonia diversifolia a.gray) on blood cholesterol level and blood glucose level of albino rat Dale Glorence P. Brugada ...[et al.].

Thesis (Bachelor of Science in Biology) -- University of Rizal System-Morong.

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY: This Study aimed to determine the effect of Wild sunflower (Tithonia diversifolia A. Gray) leaves decoction on blood cholesterol level and blood glucose level of albino rats (Rattus norvergicus Berk.). The study was conducted at the University of Rizal System Morong Campus during the School Year 2014-2015. This study was conducted to possibly contribute to the improvement of the health status of the society through exploring for potential alternative medicinal plants at the same time maximizing the utilization of natural products. The plant of concern is wild sunflower which comprised of upright and ligneous stalks in the form of woody shrubs. The large, showy flowers are yellow to orange colored and 5-15 cms. wide and 10-30 cms. long. Leaves are sub-ovate, serrate, acute, 10 to 40 cms. long, simply or mostly 3-7 lobed. Furthermore, this plant is not seasonal, growing all throughout the year and it is tolerant of high and low temperatures and somewhat drought resistant. It is wildly diverse in nature and edible. Wild sunflower leaves contain tagitinins A, B, C and F, sesquiterpene lactome, the B-complex vitamins, Nitrogen free extract, lactones, Saponin and Alkanoids. This study examined the effect of wild sunflower leaves decoction on the test organism (albino rats) utiizing experimental research design. The collection of fresh wild sunflower leaves were held at Sitio, Yakat Quisao, Pililla, Rizal where plenty of plants are readily available for the experiment. The acclimatization and experiment proper were held in Tatala, Binangonan, Rizal wherein the location is far from the roadside to prevent from too much pollution and disturbance for the test organism especially during acclimatization and in the conduct of experiment proper. Mean and standard deviation were used to determine the effect of wild sunflower leaves decoction on blood glucose level and blood cholesterol level utilizing the control and experimental group of albino rats before and the administration of distilled water and wild sunflower leaves decoction, respectively. Dependent t-test and indepent t-test were used in determining the significant difference on the effects of wild sunflower leaves decoction on blood glucose level and blood cholesterol of albino rats. Based on the experiments conducted in terms of blood cholesterol level of experimental group before the administration of wild sunflower leaves decoction obtained a mean 2.47 and after the administration the mean decrease its value to 1.73. On the other hand, the blood glucose level of the experimental group before the administration of wild sunflower leaves obtained a mean of 2.37 and after the administration the mean increases its value to 5.43. Based on the result, it is therefore concluded that the wild sunflower leaves decoction has no significant effect both on blood cholesterol and blood glucose level of albino rats. Hence the wild sunflower extract is not recommended to use to lower blood glucose and blood cholesterol level. It is also recommended to conduct more extensive studies on the other biological activity of wild sunflower using roots, stem and flower. Likewise, the specific components of wild sunflower plants that are present in the Philippines that could be distinguished as a different variety compare to other country. And conduct further study using different plant chemical extraction with several trials.