Hepatic Assessment of Aqueous and Ethanolic Extracts of Gnetum Africanum Root on Wistar Albino Rat

Abstract

The hepatic assessment of aqueous and ethanolic extracts of Gnetum africanum root on male Wistar albino rats was evaluated. Alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and total bilirubin (TBL) were analyzed. Thirty-five (35) male adult rats were alienated into 7 groups (5 rats in a group). The 1^st group which served as the control were given 1ml of normal saline throughout, 250 mg/kg, 500 mg/kg and 1000 mg/kg aqueous extracts were administered to the 2^nd, 3^rd and 4^th groups respectively while the 5^th, 6^th and the 7^th groups were given 250 mg/kg, 500 mg/kg and 1000 mg/kg ethanolic extracts respectively by oral intubation for 14 days. The ALT and ALP activity of the groups were treated with the two extracts at 1000mg/kg and the results obtained indicated a significantly higher (p<0.05) activity than that of the control. There was no significant difference (p> 0.05) observed in the AST activities in all the treated groups when compared to the control except the groups administered with 500 mg/kg and 1000 mg/kg of ethanolic extracts which increased significantly (p<0.05). Histopathology results showed some partially necrotized liver. There was no proliferation of inflammatory cells in albino Wistar rats treated with both the aqueous and ethanolic extracts of G. africanum root. Acute administration of these extracts was observed to cause slight degenerative changes in liver histology of the rat which could be classified as mild toxicity; thus caution should be applied when using it as animal feed, food or therapeutically at medium and high concentrations.