Serum proteins and enzymes levels in rats following co-administration of ethanolic leaf extracts of Ageratum conyzoides and Nigerian Bonnylight Crude Oil

Abstract

The role of administration of leaf extract of Ageratum conyzoides following the administration of Nigerian Bonnylight crude oil (NBLCO) on serum proteins and enzymes was investigated. Twenty female Wistar rats (120 to 150 g body weight) were divided into four groups of five rats each. The rats in group I served as the control group and were oral gavaged 3 ml/kg of normal saline; group II gavaged 748.33 mg/kg body weight of the extract of A. conyzoides, which was 20% of the LD50 (3741.66 mg/kg). Group III was gavaged 3 ml/kg body weight of NBLCO. This dose was calculated as 20% of the lethal dose of 14.14 ml/kg. Group IV animals were gavaged 748.33 mg/kg body weight of the extract of A. conyzoides, and 3 ml/kg body weight of NBLCO. In all cases, doses were applied daily for 31 days according to animal’s most recent body weight. The results showed that NBLCO significantly increase serum albumin, globulin, fibrinogen Alanine transaminase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and Alkaline phosphatase (ALP) compared with groups I and II (P<0.05). Co-administration of leaf extracts of A. conyzoides with NBLCO caused significant reduction in the aforementioned parameters when compared with crude oil group (p<0.05). It is concluded that co-administration of the ethanolic leaf extracts of Ageratum conyzoides with the NBLCO can be hepatoprotective to the extent of ameliorating its hazardous effects on the liver cells.