European Journal of Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Sciences

EFFECTS OF VARIOUS ALCOHOLIC BITTERS ON THE HEPATOLOGICAL INDICES OF ALBINO WISTAR RATS

*Johnson J. T. and Okafor E. O.

ABSTRACT

The liver is one of the vital organs in the body and it is known to perform well over 500 physio-biochemical roles. The consumption of various forms of alcohol is known as one of the major causes of plethora of liver diseases globally. This study investigated the effect of various alcoholic bitters on the liver using the hepatic enzymes panel. Forty two (42) albino rats of wistar strains were used for the studies and were divided into seven (7) groups of six (6) animals each. Group 1 served as normal control and were treated with distill water, group 2 were treated with action bitters (AB), group 3 were treated with alomo bitters (ALB), group 4 were treated with origin bitters (OB), group 5 were treated with 1960 bitters, group 6 which was the alcoholic control were treated with Local gin (LG) and group 7 were treated with Local gin + B complex. The animals were treated with 2.68ml/kg body weight of alcohol equivalent of a 70kg man consuming one bottle daily. The treatment was done twice daily and it lasted for the period of thirty (30) days after which the animals were sacrifice and blood was obtained via cardiac puncture. The blood was allowed to stand and clot and then centrifuge to obtain serum. The serum was use for the biochemical assay and results obtained shows that the AST activities of animals in group II (54.5±3.96), III (60.24±1.98), IV (54.67±2.41), V (57.33±2.80), VI (95.52±9.95) and VII (67.96±4.81) shows a significant (p<0.05) increased when compared with the normal control (13.22±1.20). More so, the ALT activities in group II (38.83±3.67), III (43.22±4.99), IV (42.14±4.81), V (40.95±3.90), VI (62.81±5.73) and VII (38.37±5.12) also recorded a significant (p<0.05) increased compared with the normal control (24.41±1.98). The ALP activities were also significantly (p<0.05) higher in group II (215.99±10.82), III (202.36±37.44), IV (220.25±12.56), V (204.09±12.36), VI (323.32±23.61) and VII (216.59±10.45) compared with the normal control (77.67±11.33). The GGT activities shows a significant (p<0.05) increased in group II (51.81±4.31), III (43.55±4.84), IV (54.88±3.07), V (47.57±4.37), VI (66.20±5.75) and VII (43.04±4.37) when compared to the normal control (23.95±2.99). The Total serum protein level also showed a significant (p<0.05) decreased in group II (4.80±0.52), III (4.46±0.50), IV (4.91±0.74), V (4.37±0.63), VI (2.31±0.55) and VII (3.03±0.48) when compared with the normal control (6.56±0.48), while serum albumin level of animals in group II (3.87±0.38), III (2.58±0.50), IV (3.69±0.49), V (3.61±0.28), VI (1.52±0.33) and VII (2.77±0.29) showed a significant (p<0.05) decreased compared with the normal control (5.53±0.63). The results suggest therefore that consumption of alcoholic bitters has unpleasant effects on the liver just like with every alcoholic beverages. Aside the immediate effects of too drinking, such as nausea, vomiting, blackouts, memory loss and anxiety, continuous and heavy drinking over longer periods of time may results in hepatic damage which may then affect other vital biochemical process which is dependent on the liver functions. Hence, these bitters should be consumed with great caution.

Keywords: Hepatological parameters, Cardiac puncture, Albino rats, Alcohol abuse, Brain damage.