Effect of Dandelion on serum lipids in Male Albino Rats intoxicated with Oxytetracycline

Dandelion is a common plant widely used in many countries for its nutritional and medicinal benefits. The main target of this study was to investigate its effect in two different concentrations (2.5% & 5%) on blood lipids in male albino rats. The experiment was carried out using twenty-eight male albino rats. These rats were put on basal diet for one week before being divided into four main groups (seven rats each). Group 1: Negative control group continued basal diet during the whole experiment. Group 2: Positive control group was fed on basal diet for 28 days, then injected with Oxytetracycline for three consecutive days (120 mg/kg body weight) and continued on the basal diet till the end of the experiment . Group 3: continued as group 2 and after being injected rats were given Dandelion powder 2.5 % on the basal diet . Group 4: as the same of group 3 except that rats were given 5 % Dandelion powder. The study continued for one week after the injection of Oxytetracycline . At the end of the experimental period rats were fasted overnight and sacrificed; blood samples were collected from the aorta to determine lipids profiles. Besides, the biological parameters were recorded. The study concluded that diet fortified at 2.5% and 5% dandelion powder helped to improve blood lipid levels in rats compared with positive control groups (injected with oxytetracycline).