ABSTRACT
Oil from different seeds in fruits has been exploited for nutritional and health benefits ranging from provision of essential nutrients for cellular metabolic processes to being an alternative route to the orthodox drugs in the quest for a better living. However, adverse consequences following consumption of this seed oils on both the liver and kidney are not well known. The present study was carried out to assess the integrity of the liver and kidney following the administration of different doses of Citrullus lanatus seed extracts (oil) to mature female albino Wistar rats. Twenty - four female albino Wistar rats weighing between 179 g – 257 g were randomly divided into four groups of six animals per group. Animals in group 1(control group) received normal rat chow placebo. The experimental groups 2, 3, and 4 received 932.0 mg, 1864.0 mg and 2796.0 mg seed oil extract / kg body weight in 0.2, 0.4 and 0.6 ml respectively for twenty-one (21) days by oral gavaging. The effects of treatment on the integrity of the liver and kidney were assessed by measuring the activities of serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) for liver and Na+, K+, Cl-, HCO3 and Creatinine for kidney as well as the histomorphology of the liver and kidney for possible distortions. The results showed a dose-dependent decrease that was only significant (p<0.05) in group 4 relative to the control group for ALT, while both AST and ALP showed non-significant (p>0.05) changes. Furthermore, non-significant changes were recorded for Na+, K+, Cl-, HCO3 and Creatinine. Histomorphologically, the liver and kidney integrity were not altered except for fatty infiltration of group 4 hepatocytes relative to control group and hyperchromasia of group 4 kidney relative to control. Generally, this study showed that Citrullus lanatus seed oil consumption results are of great advantage to liver and kidney tissues when consumed.
ABSTRACT
Thirty five clinically healthy albino rats of both sexes weighing between 100 – 120grams were used to study the effects of Allium sativum bulb extract in combination with diminazene aceturate on parsitemia and biochemical indices in trypanosome brucei brucei infection. The rats were divided in to seven groups (A-G) of five rats each. All the infected rats developed Parasitemia five days post infection. Weakness, increase respiratory rate, rough hair coat Biochemical changes at interval and possible deaths were the major parameters which were carefully observed. All the treatment commenced at the onset of parasitemia by day five post infection. Sub therapeutic dose of Allium sativum at 20mg/kg/bw in combination with 1.7mg/kg/bw of diminazene aceturate (Group C),diminazene aceturate at single standard dose of 3.5mg/kg/bw (Group B) caused a significant reduction (P<0.05) in parasitemia. The liver function enzymes ALT AST level in rats infected and not treated showed significant increase liver function enzymes (Group A) while those treated with standard and sub therapeutic dose (Group BCD) respectively. Had their liver function enzymes towards normal, compare with control (Group G).Its trypanocidal activity was assessed through daily examination of blood parasite, sub therapeutic doses of Allium sativum bulb extracts and its combination appear to be more effective in reducing severity of trypanosome brucei brucei infection and provide alternative in reducing the toxicity of existing trypanocide.
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: It is well known that heavy alcohol consumption may result in various lesions on multiple organs and tissue, especially liver. The aim of this study was to measure prevalence of raised liver derived enzymes in healthy men and possible association with alcohol consumption, smoking and body mass index. METHODS: All subjects were 450 men who received Adult Health Examination at Seoul Hospital of Konkuk medical center from May, 1998 to October, 1998. We carried out telephone survey and analyzed 360 men, excluding men with HBs Ag(+), hepatic problems within 6 months, medication drug that could change serum activity of hepatic enzyme or joints, myscles, cardiac problem and non responder to telephone survey. We examined prevalence of raised liver enzymes and its possible association with alcohol consumption, smoking, and body mass index, applying logistic regression analysis. RESULTS: In 20.3% of study subjects, we found raised levels of lver derived enzymes. If the alcohol consumption was higher than 270 g/week, the odds ratio(OR) for raised liver enzymes, adjusted for body mass index and smoking, increased ; serum gamma glutamyltransferase(gamma GTP)(OR: 9.48), serum aspartate aminotransferase(AST)(OR: 13.09), and serum alanine aminotransferase(ALT)(OR: 7.40). Smoking was not associated with the risk of raised liver enzymes and obesity(body mass index 25 kg/m2) showed a positive association with two enzymes; gamma GTP(OR: 1.92) and ALT(OR: 2.08). CONCLUSION: If alcohol consumption was higher than 270 g/week, the risk of raised liver enzymes increased dramatically and gamma GTP, AST were shown more sensitive than ALT in alcoholic liver disease.