Assessment of the Activity of Creatine Kinase in Rabbits Fed with Extracts of Cocos Nucifera Milk, Cocos Nucifera Water, Vernonia Amygdalina and Prosopis Africana

Abstract

Despite more specific and sensitive cardiac biomarkers, creatine kinase isoenzyme creatine kinase-muscle/brain (CK-MB) in serum or plasma is still an important parameter for diagnostics of the origin of CK elevations and for disease monitoring. The aim of this study is to investigate the effect of varying doses of coconut milk, coconut water, Vernonia amygdalina (bitter leaf) and Prosopisafricana on creatine kinase. Fifteen adult male rabbits weighing between 1.5kg-2.5kg were divided into five groups of three rabbits each. Group 1 was the reference/control group which received no extract, while groups 2,3,4 and 5 received 5ml/kg per body weight (b.wt) of coconut milk, coconut water, bitter leaf and P. africana extracts respectively. Results obtained revealed that creatine kinase concentration in group 2 was significantly (p<0.05) increasedcompared to the control for the 10, 20, and 30 days of administration respectively. Groups 3, 4and 5 showed a significant decrease for the first 10 days. Although, group 3 shows an increase within 20 and30daysadministration as compare to the control. Also creatine kinase concentration shows no significantly difference in group 4 and 5 at 20 days administration but an increase after 30 days administration. Phytochemical studies on P. africana and V. amygdalina revealed the presence of bioactive components comprising alkaloids, flavonoids, tannins, saponins, terpenoids, steroids and glycosides. The bioactive compounds may be responsible for the medicinal property of these plants that form the basis of their use in herbal medicine.