Abstract
Problem statement: To evaluate the effects of the water extract of the leaves of mistletoe (Loranthus micranthus) (traditionally used antidiabetic and antihypertensive) in male albino Wistar rats. Approach: The animals were divided into 4 groups (n = 6). Water extract of L. micranthus leaves was administered in graded doses of 0, 275, 551 and 827 mg kg-1 body weight (wt) of experimental animals for 21days. Blood samples were collected by cardiac puncture. The serum harvested was analyzed for some biochemical parameters, using assay kits. Results: There were no significant changes (p>0.05) in the levels of cholesterol, bilirubin, glucose, protein, urea, alkaline phosphatase and Aspartate Transaminase (AST). Alanine Transaminase (ALT) activities of the groups rats given 551 and 827 mg kg-1 body weight extracts (15.96 and 14.24 U L-1 respectively) showed significant decreases (p<0.05) when compared with the control (24.96 U L-1) and the group fed 275 mg kg-1 body weight of extract (16.19U L-1). Computed ALT/AST showed decreases in the test groups (0.77-0.78) when compared with the control (1.04). Conclusion: The results suggested no adverse biochemical changes being associated with the use of the extract or absence of hepatocellular damage at the investigated concentrations. Thus the use of the plant in the treatment and management of diabetes and hypertension should be encouraged.
Highlights
The tropical rain forest of West Africa is endowed with enormous natural resources, mainly medicinal plants
It is to this class that the African mistletoe (Loranthus micranthus Linn.) belongs
All rats housed in well-ventilated cages were fed normal rat chow (Bendel Feed and Flour Mill Ltd., Benin City, Nigeria, without any restriction to food and drinking water during the decreases in serum activities of Alanine Transaminase (ALT) and Aspartate Transaminase (AST) in the test groups (14.26-16.19 and 18.61-21.53 U L−1 respectively) when compared with those of the control (24.96 and 23.96 U L−1 respectively)
Summary
The tropical rain forest of West Africa is endowed with enormous natural resources, mainly medicinal plants. Medicinal plants form the basis of medical treatment in many developing countries[1,2,3,4]. It is to this class that the African mistletoe (Loranthus micranthus Linn.) (family-Loranthaceae) belongs. Mistletoe is a semi-parasitic evergreen plant found growing on a host of evergreen and deciduous trees all year round, around the branches of the tree. It is an obligate parasite, obtaining part of its food from the host plant. It depends on its host for minerals and water only, but photosynthesizes its carbohydrate by means of its green leathery, oblong leaves[5]
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