European Journal of Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Sciences

HEPATOPROTECTIVE POTENTAL OF HONEY, COFFEE AND VITAMIN E IN MALE WISTAR RATS

Maureen Onochie, Chuemere Arthur Nwafor* and Ilochi Ogadinma

ABSTRACT

This research was carried out to determine the potential hepatoprotective effect of honey, coffee and vitamin E on normal male wistar rats. A total of 30 healthy male wistar rats were randomly divided into six (6) groups with five (5) rats in each. Treatments include vitamin E 0.15ml, honey 2ml, coffee 1.6ml; honey 2ml co-administered coffee 1.6ml, honey 2ml co-administered vitamin E 0.15ml. The experimental period lasted for 56 days. Liver function markers assayed for include; alanine transaminase (ALT), aspartate transaminase (AST), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), total protein (AP), bilirubin, total bilirubin and conjugated bilirubin. From the outcome of this research, honey significantly reduced liver enzyme markers, bilirubin, conjugated and total bilirubin but significantly increased total proteins compared to both control and vitamin E treatment. Coffee increased the blood level of liver enzymes, bilirubin, conjugated and total bilirubin but significantly reduced total proteins compared to both control and vitamin E treatment. Vitamin E and honey co-administered vitamin E significantly increased the total proteins in blood, but significantly reduced liver enzymes, bilirubin, conjugated and total bilirubin compared to control. Honey and vitamin E or co-administration of both may possess therapeutic organic and inorganic constituents that have hepatoprotective function. Coffee, except co-administered honey, may have an adverse effect on liver function.

Keywords: Liver function markers, Honey, Coffee, Vitamin E, Hepatoprotective.