ABSTRACT
This study examined the biochemical changes in serum of female albino rats administered aqueous extract of Piper guineense Schumach seeds extract. The test animals (groups 2, 3 and 4) received 25 mg/kg, 50 mg/kg and 75 mg/kg of the extract respectively for 21 days, while group 1 served as control and received a placebo of 0.9% physiological saline which is the vehicle for administration. On the 22nd day the test animals which have been fasted overnight were sacrificed with chloroform anesthesia. Blood was collected through cardiac puncture. Results show that serum protein, albumin and packed cell volume concentration significantly (p≤0.05) increased. Creatinine and urea levels decreased (p≤0.05) significantly, 95% confidence level, while cholesterol profile decreased (p≤0.05) significantly, except HDL. Superoxide dismutase, glutathione-s-transferase, increased (p≤0.05) significantly, while lipid peroxidation decreased. This study has shown that nursing mothers in South East of Nigeria who use the Piper guineense Schumach seeds may derive immense benefit from its effect on the biochemical parameters assayed in this study.
ABSTRACT
Biochemical Changes in serum of male albino rats treated with aqueous leaf extract of Phyllanthus amarus were examined. 50mg/kg and 100mg/kg of the extracts were administered orally and once daily to group I and group II of test animals respectively for 28 days. The third group which served as control received distilled water only. On the 29th day, the rats which had been fasted overnight were dissected under chloroform anaesthesia and their blood collected directly by cardiac puncture. The blood was allowed to clot and centrifuged to obtain serum which was kept in a refrigerator at - 200C until its usage for the analysis of the following parameters; alanine and aspartate transaminases, alkaline and acid phosphatases, haemoglobin concentration, high and low density lipoproteins. The result indicates significant (P<0.05) increases in AST, ALT and ACP levels in tests groups compared to the control animals. There were non-significant elevation in the concentration of ALP, HDL, LDL and haemoglobin. These results suggest that P. amarus may be toxic if abused but when properly administered can be of use for its medicinal values.