Effects of Ethanolic Extracts of Fruits of Dennettia tripetala on Liver Function of Male Albino Rats

Abstract

This study evaluated the effects of ethanolic extracts of fruits of Dennettia tripetala on liver function of male albino rats. Dennettia tripetala is an endemic plant of west tropical Africa that is known as pepper fruit. The fruit is known for its numerous medicinal properties such as antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and antidiarrhea. The plant materials were air dried and made into powder, 250g was used for the crude extraction using 70% ethanol. Ninety eight male albino rats were used in this study; forty eight were used for LD50 and fifty for the main experiment. The animals were randomly distributed into 5 groups of 10 animals each. The test animals were administered single dose of ethanolic extracts of fruits of D. tripetala (200 mg/kg and 400 mg/kg) daily for twenty-one days. The animals sacrificed at end of the 21 days. Blood sample was collected via cardiac puncture for biochemical analysis, while the liver was harvested for histological examination. A very high LD50 value of 4000 mg/kg body weight was recorded in this study. The results of biochemical parameters revealed that mean values of AST ALT and ALP were elevated significantly (p<0.05) in all the test groups, except ALP in group 4 which showed no significant alteration when compared to the control. Total protein, albumin and globulin showed no significant alteration in all the test groups; total and direct bilirubin decreased significantly in test groups 4 and 5, and increased in group 2, while indirect bilirubin showed no significant alteration in all the test groups. Photomicrograph of liver section of normal control rats (group 1) showed normal central vein, portal triad, sinusoids and lamella of hepatic cells as well as those in all the test groups.