European Journal of Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Sciences

EFFECT OF VERNONIA AMYGDALINA AND CHROMOLAENA ODORATA EXTRACTS ON SOME SELECTED LIVER FUNCTION TEST PARAMETERS

Matthew Omokhegbe Lucy* and Emokpae Mathias Abiodun

ABSTRACT

Medicinal plants have been used to treat illnesses all across the world since the dawn of time, and they are still used in both developing and developed countries. For a variety of chemotherapeutic applications. plants derived natural compounds was used as part of herbal preparations for alternative source of medication in the third world countries. Effect of Vernonia amygdalina and Chromolaena odorata extracts on some selected liver function test parameters was evaluated in Wistar rats in Benin City, Edo state, Nigeria. Phytochemical analysis was done on the extracts to identify most active ingredients and acute toxicity studies using LD50 was carried out before the leaf extracts were administered to the animals (rats). Thirty-five male Wistar rats divided equally into seven groups each consisting of five rats were given the extracts at different concentrations of 150 and 250 mg/kg body weight. Plasma levels of total protein, albumin, globulin, alanine and aspartate transaminases were estimated. Histological studies were also conducted on their livers. The total protein and globulin increased significantly (P<0.05) in the rats treated with 150 mg/kg body weight of Vernonia amygdalina and 150 mg/kg body weight of the combined leaf extract (Vernonia amygdalina and Chromolaena odorata). The alanine and aspartate transaminase activities decreased significantly (P<0.05) at a concentration of 150 mg/kg body weight of Vernonia amygdalina and Chromolaena odorata compared with control. In conclusion, the leaf extracts increased the total protein concentration, and decreased the alanine and aspartate transaminase activities. Histologically, there were alterations in the liver structures at a dose of 250 mg/kg body weight of the leaf extracts methanolic extract of Vernonia amygdalina and Chromolaena odorata leaf used may be safe at low doses whereas high doses may have deleterious hepatic effects.

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