The effects of Rauwolfia vomitoria extract on the liver enzymes of mercury induced hepatotoxicity in adult wistar rats

Abstract

Rauwolfia vomitoria is a natural medicinal plant which has been used over the years for the treatment of various ailments. This work focuses on the effects of extract of rauwolfia vomitoria on liver enzymes of mercury induced hepatotoxicity were observed in twenty adult wistar rats weighing between 120g and 210g. They were divided into four groups A,B, C and D of five rats each. Group A served as the control and received 0.5ml of distilled water. The experimental groups B, C and D received different doses of drugs as follows: group B received 0.6ml of rauwolfia vomitoria extract, group C received 0.5ml of mercury and group D received 0.5ml of mercury and 0.6ml of rauwolfia vomitoria extract. The drugs were administered once in a day using intubation method for a period of thirty four days. Twenty four hours after the last administration, the animals were anaesthetized under chloroform vapour and dissected. liver tissues were removed and weighed. Blood samples were collected by cardiac puncture and Serum samples were separated from clot by centrifugation using bench top centrifuge. Activities of serum aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase and alkaline phosphatase were determined using randox kit method. The relative liver weight for mercury treated group were significantly higher (p<0.001) than the control and groups B and D. serum aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotraansferase and alkaline phosphate level of group C were statistically higher (p<0.001) than the control. The extract exhibited a liver protective effect against mercury induced hepatotoxicity.