European Journal of Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Sciences

INVESTIGATIVE STUDIES ON THE EFFECTS OF ETHANOL ROOT EXTRACT OF DENNETTIA TRIPETALA ON LIVER ENZYMES, PROTEIN AND BILIRUBIN LEVELS IN WISTAR RATS ADMINISTERED THERMOXIDIZED PALM OIL

Nwankpa Promise*, Ekweogu C. N., Emengaha F. C., Etteh C. C., Ngwu E. E. and Ugwuezumba P. C.

ABSTRACT

This study investigated the effect of ethanol root extract of Dennettia tripetala on liver enzymes, protein and bilirubin level in wistar rats administered thermoxidized palm oil. Twenty wistar rats divided into 4 groups of 5 rats each were used for the study. Group 1 served as the normal control group, group II received 1ml of thermoxidized palm oil, group III animals were treated with 1ml of thermoxidized palm oil and 50mg/kg of ethanol root extract of Dennettia tripetala while group IV received 1ml of thermoxidized palm oil and 100mg/kg body weight of the root extract. Animals were fasted for 24 hours and sacrificed after 21 days of treatment. Aspartate amino-transferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), total protein, albumin, globulin, total, conjugated and unconjugated bilirubin were determined using standard analytical methods. Treatment of the animals with 50mg/kg and 100mg/kg of root extract led to a significant (p<0.05) decrease in the levels of AST, ALT, ALP, total conjugated and unconjugated bilirubin when compared with negative control (Group II animals). Also animals that received 50mg/kg and 100mg/kg of extract showed a statistically significant increase in the levels of total protein, albumin and globulin when compared with the negative control. These effects were most pronounced in animals that received 100mg/kg body weight of rat. From the results, it can be deduced that thermoxidized palm oil causes derangement of liver function parameters while the root extract of Dennettia tripetala is hepato-protective.

Keywords: Albumin, thermoxidized palm oil, bilirubin, liver enzymes, Dennettia tripetala.