Virgin coconut oil mitigates the hepatotoxic effect of atrazine and diabetes on liver enzymes in male Wistar rats

Abstract

To assess the hepatoprotective action of Virgin Coconut Oil(VCO) in atrazine administered rats. Adult male Wistar rats weighing 180-200 g body weight were separated into two major experimental groups. 35 rats in the test group were divided into five sub-groups of 7rats: Subgroup (SG)1,2 and 3 received 10 ml/kg body weight of distilled water, 10 ml/kg VCO and 123 mg/kg Atrazine (ATZ) respectively, SG 4 was diabetic control group and SG 5 was diabetic group treated with 10 ml/kg of VCO for 2weeks, after which the animals were sacrificed and blood collected for analysis. 35 rats for the recovery group were also divided into 5 subgroups of 7 rats; SG1 and 2 received 10 ml/kg body weight of distilled water and 10 ml/kg of VCO, SG 3, 4 and 5 received 123 mg/kg of ATZ for 2 weeks. After the first 2 weeks, SG 1,2,3 continued the initial treatment while the rats in SG4 and SG5 were fed with 10 ml/kg of VCO and10 ml/kg of distilled water respectively. After 2 weeks, all the animals were sacrificed and blood collected for analysis. We observed a significant increase in the aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels of the diabetes control and diabetes treated with VCO groups compared to the normal control. In the groups administered with atrazine, the result showed elevations in serum AST and ALT. With VCO,a significant decrease in ALT levels when compared to the ATZ continued group was observed, further potentiating the hepatoprotective ability of VCO.